Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart had to wait 16 games while he sat out with a hamstring injury that he suffered in early November before he finally returned to play in his 1000th career game on Dec. 18 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though his numbers don’t jump off the box score, the 35-year-old’s return to the line up has fortified the backend while allowing the Avalanche to make a much-needed push into the playoff conversation.
The Avalanche were 10-13-7 when Stuart came back – last place in the Central Division and nine points out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. It was more realistic for the Avalanche fans to fantasize about drafting Connor McDavid – the consensus no. 1 pick in this year’s NHL draft – than to imagine their team making the playoffs this season.
Since Stuart’s return to the blue line, the Avalanche have competed and fought like a team that wants to be playing meaningful hockey games in April instead of one that is content to get an early start on the golf course. The club is an impressive 10-5-3 since Stuart returned and now sits just three points behind the Calgary Flames for the final Wild Card position in the Western Conference. In the process, they’ve moved up from sixth to fourth in the Wild Card standings by passing the Dallas Stars and the Minnesota Wild.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenseman provides leadership and a physical presence that the Avalanche severely lack when he isn’t in the lineup. He is second on the team with 51 hits since his return.
“He’s a threat,” said Gabriel Landeskog – who was the victim of a bone-crushing Stuart hit in 2013. “As an opposing forward you know that he’s on the ice, and you have to be aware.”
Stuart – the third overall pick in 1998’s draft – is also one of the only players on the Avs’ roster who has raised the Stanley Cup.
“He’s a really steady influence,” said Erik Johnson. “He won a Stanley Cup in Detroit and has been on a lot of winning teams. He’s approaching mid-30s, but he really skates well out there. If you can skate in the league you’re going to be around for a long time, and he can definitely move.”
As an unforeseen bonus, Stuart has tallied a goal and five assists – including two separate two-assist performances – in 18 games since returning after he registered zero points in his first 12 games in an Avalanche sweater before the injury. Five of the six points he registered came in victories.
He was even an unexpected selection as the Avs’ first star for the week ending on Jan. 4.
Stuart has also drawn the praise of coach Patrick Roy for his effort on the penalty kill.
Following Jan. 10’s win over the Stars, coach Roy said, “Brad Stuart was phenomenal on those kills. I thought he deserved a star tonight, he played so well.”
The Avalanche hand-picked Stuart as a player that could help take their team to the next level and traded second and sixth round draft picks to the San Jose Sharks to acquire the veteran of 15 NHL seasons over the offseason. The club doubled down on the decision by inking Stuart to a two-year contract extension that will keep him locked up through the 2016-17 season.
The Avs have 34 games remaining on their schedule to attempt to claw their way into the playoff picture. Stuart will be an integral piece of the puzzle – you just won’t here his name much in the media.
Nathan is a staff writer for Mile High Sports. He can be reached on Twitter at @TheRealNatron.
