Brad Stuart needs to sign with the San Jose Sharks in order for the Detroit Red Wings to get the conditional 2014 pick tied to the trade. The Detroit Red Wings traded the negotiating rights to Stuart on Sunday. It's only a seventh round selection and Stuart is expected to reach an agreement with San Jose in the near future. If not, he'll become an unrestricted free agent this summer.

The San Jose Sharks acquired Brad Stuart's negotiating rights from the Detroit Red Wings for forward Andrew Murray and a conditional 2004 pick. Stuart began his career with the Sharks before being one of the big pieces in the Joe Thornton trade. Stuart's desire to be closer to his family in California is well-documented, so the Sharks probably have a good chance of getting a deal done. If not, Stuart will be an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Brad Stuart is expected to ponder his future for weeks before he engages in serious talks with Red Wings GM Ken Holland. Stuart is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer. "I told Stuey, 'Go home, take a month with your family'; told his agent I would talk to him prior to the draft,'" Holland said. Stuart is believed to be seriously thinking of signing with a California team, preferably the San Jose Sharks, to be closer with his family. The Sharks could certainly use Stuart, especially when it comes to killing penalties. San Jose ranked 29th in the league this season with a 76.9% penalty killing success rate.

Brad Stuart isn't likely to re-sign with the Detroit Red Wings. Stuart will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and he's likely to sign with a team closer to his family in San Jose. "I've been living here while my family has spent a lot of time in California," Stuart said. "I've got a step-daughter that needs to finish high school. That's how it is. There's really no way to get around that. I guess it will be up to me to decide what needs to be done, because it's been a tough couple of years. As much fun and as great as it's been to play here, it's been equally as tough on the family side of it." Stuart hasn't entirely ruled out the possibility of staying with Detroit and the Red Wings are expected to try and re-sign him.

The Detroit Red Wings will need to continue their recent penalty-killing success against the Nashville Predators, the team with the league's best power-play unit. For much of this season, the Wings were not good on the penalty kill, and that's why they finished 18th in the league. Recently, though, they've stepped up their efforts, killing off 31 of 31 over their last seven contests. Of course, their chances for knocking off the Preds would improve if they stayed out of the box, too. "We need [the penalty kill] to be great," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "It's gotta be a point of frustration."

Brad Stuart (flu) will suit up for Detroit on Wednesday night. He didn't play on Monday due to a bout with the flu. Get Stuart back in your lineup if you normally would.

Consider Brad Stuart (flu) probable for Wednesday's game. Stuart didn't play on Monday as a result of the illness. He has four goals and 11 points in 53 games this season.

Brad Stuart might miss Monday's game due to the flu. Stuart is considered probable by, Red Wings GM Ken Holland, but nothing is set in stone. He has four goals and 11 points in 53 games this season.

Brad Stuart, who is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st, will likely not re-sign with the Wings until the end of the season, if at all. He does not want to be distracted while playing and seems in rush to re-up with the Wings as he may want to play nearer his west coast home. For the record, the Wings seem to want him back.

Brad Stuart was able to play on Wednesday despite a knee injury. Stuart needed some extra treatment following the Wednesday morning skate. Fortunately, we've entered the All-Star break, so Stuart will have plenty of time to rest his knee.