128 replies to this topic

[haroldsnepsts]

Oh, there will be. Sad, but true. It'll be the same idiots that boo Hossa when he did nothing but fulfill his obligation, which was a huge risk in the first place given the 1-year term in the prime of his career.

Honestly I'd be a little surprised if there was booing other than from a few idiots.

This has been a known thing for a while now, and it's not like he's leaving the Wings because he thinks San Jose gives him a better shot at winning the Cup or would get him more money.

Who knows though. Maybe I'm giving Wings fans too much credit, but it's pretty crappy if they boo him. Stuart was a great late season pickup by the Wings and a big part of their Cup in '08.

[LeftWinger]

Honestly I'd be a little surprised if there was booing other than from a few idiots.

This has been a known thing for a while now, and it's not like he's leaving the Wings because he thinks San Jose gives him a better shot at winning the Cup or would get him more money.

Who knows though. Maybe I'm giving Wings fans too much credit, but it's pretty crappy if they boo him. Stuart was a great late season pickup by the Wings and a big part of their Cup in '08.

I think it will be quite the opposite...I remember Adam Oates early returns to Detroit, he got cheered when he scored a goal or even got an assist.

Brad had said his first choice is to stay in Detroit, but it is because of the family issues (Wife not able to move here) that he must return to California. Fans will cheer him, trust me...

EDIT: Lest us forget that he was one of those guys who signed a contract for LESS money to stay in Detroit for three more years...he could have left in 08', but knows which is the best organization to play for. Even when he said he had to go, they asked him which team and made a trade to allow San Jose to open up a roster spot instead of just letting July 1st come and having him deal with it on his own...Red Wings class act, from top to bottom...Take note Parise/Suter....Take note Schultz/Dekeyser/Welsh....Take note...you will not be sorry...just look at Wisniewski, he is sorry now...

Edited by LeftWinger, 18 June 2012 - 05:35 PM.

[Majsheppard]

Darren Dreger said something on twitter I thought was just plain stupid.

Said he took a paycut to go to a club that is a great fit...

It hurts my head because he makes it sound like he was taking a paycut to leave Detroit to go somewhere where his playing is improved or his chance to win is worth a paycut. I took the 4% paycut and 3 years as bad pay and term for someone who deserved a raise, but was stuck because everyone knew to be with his family he HAD to sign in San Jose.

I am really disappointed in the Sharks for negotiating him down. If anything they should give him a raise and put in the contract that 60% of the raise must be given to the wife to do whatever they want.

I am happy he will be in a home again with his wife. I just dislike them putting the screws to him. I assumed he was in line for a raise in Detroit, and I expected the same from the Sharks.

[chances14]

Honestly I'd be a little surprised if there was booing other than from a few idiots.

This has been a known thing for a while now, and it's not like he's leaving the Wings because he thinks San Jose gives him a better shot at winning the Cup or would get him more money.

Who knows though. Maybe I'm giving Wings fans too much credit, but it's pretty crappy if they boo him. Stuart was a great late season pickup by the Wings and a big part of their Cup in '08.

well judging by some of the comments at the bottom of this news article, i think you may be giving them too much credit

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2012/06/former_red_wings_defenseman_br.html

[LeftWinger]

I like this guy:

schwartzme
Stuart quit on the Wings in December. San Jose will not improve with him on the back end. He is simply not that good and they have lots of problems that he will not fix. Good for him. He got to use the power of the collective bargaining system to get something he wanted. After all, the players did lose a year in a lockout so he just took advantage of the negotiated settlement. The mistake in this whole deal was that Holland was too sympathetic in Stuart's favor. The Wings are a business. They charge people money to watch them play. Holland knew he had a deserter on his team and should have peddled him to an Eastern Conference team well before the trading deadline and gotten something in return. Instead he stood pat and lost him, but came out of it a nice guy. And oh yes, with a 1-4 playoff record for his team.

Hey schwartzme, The Red Wings are a class act and in this act of valor toward Brad it proves to the rest of the players in the NHL that if you become a Red Wing, you are family and Devil Anse Holland takes care of his family! Shipping Brad off to a crap team at the deadline would only show other potential UFA's around the league that if for some reason you need a special favor, Holland just screws you over! But doing what Holland did in accommodating Stuart, he just proved to the NHL players, if a special circumstance arises, whatever you need I will make it happen! Work hard for me and I will work hard for you! That move is one rarely seen by any other team in the league. Brad gave Holland 3 yrs and a couple of months, including a Stanley Cup...Brad will always be a Red Wing and Holland will always be this classy! I expect nothing less from the Detroit Red Wings...

Players just don't come here to play, the come here to join a family and more times than not, end their careers. Why do you think Chelios never left? He tried to have one more go at it in Atlanta, but only played 7 games and hung them up...he quickly returned "home" to the Red Wings...

Holland did two things for Brad, he offered him a contract letting him know that if he wanted to stay, the Wings wanted him, then he traded him back home so he could be with his family...Brad will always be welcomed back if he so chose to, that is a guarantee! Brad has earned his Red Wings and will always be a part of this great Dynasty we have been so privileged to watch for the last 20 years!

[Wingzman91]

Stuart is making less money with a open, tradeable contract.

SJ already traded him once and I'd bet they would do it again.

Ultimately, it will be Stuart having to look these guys in the eyes when it is handshake time at the end of a series.

[GoWings1905]

I'm happy everything worked out well for Stuart. It sucks to see him with a team like the Sharks, but I will never fault Stuart for doing what is best for his family. All of the negative comments being thrown at Stuart are unfair. I remember after the Red Wings won the cup in 2008, it was widely speculated that Stuart would end up going back out west then. He sacrificed and gave the Red Wings four more years of service and steady play on defense.

I do feel Stuart is on the decline, but the timing of him leaving is really unfortunate for the Red Wings. Lidstrom, Rafalski and Stuart all gone within a year -- overhauling 3/4 of a top four on defense that quickly is quite the challenge. There was nothing flashy about Stuart, however he was extremely reliable and consistent. He could eat up minutes and was the best penalty killer/shot blocker on the team. Ericsson looked capable of sliding into that role and now we have to hope Quincey steps up and improves his play as well to help fill the void.

As for the above claiming Stuart "quit", that's why I never read the comments on any MLive article. I swear the most obnoxious, fickle and ignorant fans all flock there. It is the same thing with the Tigers too. Ansar Khan is really good in his coverage of the Red Wings, so the articles themselves are worthwhile, but you end up hating humanity reading the comments.

[Hockeytown0001]

I'm disappointed he left and the reasons surrounding it, but respect his choice to want to be closer to his family.

[xtrememachine1]

The Red Wings are a class act and in this act of valor toward Brad it proves to the rest of the players in the NHL that if you become a Red Wing, you are family and Devil Anse Holland takes care of his family! Shipping Brad off to a crap team at the deadline would only show other potential UFA's around the league that if for some reason you need a special favor, Holland just screws you over! But doing what Holland did in accommodating Stuart, he just proved to the NHL players, if a special circumstance arises, whatever you need I will make it happen! Work hard for me and I will work hard for you! That move is one rarely seen by any other team in the league. Brad gave Holland 3 yrs and a couple of months, including a Stanley Cup...Brad will always be a Red Wing and Holland will always be this classy! I expect nothing less from the Detroit Red Wings...

Players just don't come here to play, the come here to join a family and more times than not, end their careers. Why do you think Chelios never left? He tried to have one more go at it in Atlanta, but only played 7 games and hung them up...he quickly returned "home" to the Red Wings...

Holland did two things for Brad, he offered him a contract letting him know that if he wanted to stay, the Wings wanted him, then he traded him back home so he could be with his family...Brad will always be welcomed back if he so chose to, that is a guarantee! Brad has earned his Red Wings and will always be a part of this great Dynasty we have been so privileged to watch for the last 20 years!

This is a good move for the Wings especially right now. In addition to having a winning tradition, the organization takes good care of its players and accommodates them as best they can. Don't think that that won't be a factor when deciding on where to play for future UFA's. With the exception of maybe Cujo, I don't think anyone that's signed with the Wings over the past 20 years has regretted it.