NHL Free Agency Buzz: Already weak free agent group continues to get weaker prior to July 1

NHL FREE AGENCY BUZZ Stuart returning to Sharks Defenseman Brad Stuart won’t have to wait until July 1 to return to the West Coast. The Detroit Red Wings today traded the rights of Stuart to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for center Andrew Murray. Stuart, 32, is an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and said months ago that he wanted to return to the West Coast as his family still lives in the San Jose area. Stuart is expected to sign a multi-year deal with the Sharks who drafted him in the first round in 2003. If the Sharks, as expected, do sign Stuart, Detroit also will receive a seventh-round pick in 2014. Stuart would fill a top-4 role