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Player Evaluations: Brad Stuart & Tyler Kennedy

August 25, 2013, 12:42 AM ET [3 Comments]
Cam Gore
San Jose Sharks Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Over the upcoming weeks I will be evaluating the players on the Sharks roster who have played in twenty games or more. Players will be given a number between 1-20 for their high, low, and overall. The high being how well they play at their best and the low is the opposite; the overall is what we get out of a player on the season long average.

Brad Stuart re-joined the Sharks last summer and by returning to the team that drafted him 3rd overall in 1998 he has also re-joined his family. Stuart’s family stayed right here in San Jose while he was off playing with the Bruins, Flames, Kings and winning a Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings. He was gone from 2005 until 2012 which had to be tough on family life.

If there is any doubt that Stuart is happy to be home just watch the way he commits to playing for his teammates. Stuart does all the little things, as well as the big things that make him a popular guy to have on any team.

Stuart threw his body in front of 89 shots and does a lot of the dirty work in the corners. He is a humble man and brings great leadership to the Sharks blue line as well as a winning pedigree.

Stuart will never be known as an offensive defenseman. When he grew up playing D meant that you took care of your own zone, and it still does, but in today’s game there is more expected from the rearguards as far as moving the puck up ice and adding to the offensive output.

Brad is fine at joining the play through the neutral zone and dumping it in but he hasn’t shown any magic with the puck once he has entered the O zone…nor should we expect to see any highlight reels from him.

As far as steady reliable physical defenseman go in the NHL who aren’t overpaid there are few if any who have better value than Brad Stuart.

Player High Low Average
Brad Stuart 15.5 11 14

Tyler Kennedy is one of the summer acquisitions, but I do believe he will become a fan favorite. Kennedy is listed as 5’11 and 183 oz. which may be a stretch; however he is a player that plays bigger than his numbers. I believe that this year in San Jose we will get a better idea of the player that he can be with more opportunity than he got in Pittsburgh.

Kennedy is coming into the prime years of his career at the age of 27. I wouldn’t be surprised if he sees time on every line. He has the ability to chip in as a top 6 guy, but his more natural role will be on the third line. He is too good to be relegated to a fourth line role and has a knack for scoring timely goals.

While playing on the richest offensive team in the NHL throughout his career I believe he got lost in the shuffle and will play with a chip on his shoulder with something to prove.

Like Brad Stuart he has played on a Cup winning team and has plenty of playoff experience. Add that bit of sandpaper that Kennedy possesses and he should fit in well wearing teal next season.

Player High Low Average
Tyler Kennedy 16 11 14

Next time we take a closer look at the up and coming forward Brent Burns and Sharks rookie of the year Matt Irwin.

Keep your sticks on the ice,
Cam Gore
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