San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Brad Stuart from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for forward Andrew Murray and a conditional draft selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.Stuart is set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and the Sharks now maintain the exclusive rights to negotiate a new contract with him until that time.“We are very happy to acquire Brad’s rights prior to July 1 and are hopeful that we come to an agreement on a new contract,” said Wilson. “Brad is a player we are very familiar with – a physical, team-first defenseman who is tough to play against, which is exactly the kind of mentality we want our team to possess.”Stuart, 32, has spent the last four-plus seasons with the Red Wings. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 26, 2008, Stuart made back-to back appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals with Detroit in 2008 and 2009, including winning the Stanley Cup in 2008.Last season, Stuart posted 21 points (6 goals, 15 assists) and was +16 in 81 regular season games for the Red Wings. He was first on the team in hits (177, T-16th among NHL defensemen) and second in blocked shots (115) and played in his 800th career NHL game on Oct. 21, 2011 vs. Columbus.The 13-year NHL veteran has appeared in 876 career regular season games with San Jose, Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles and Detroit, amassing 305 points (74 goals, 231 assists) and 489 penalty minutes.He also added 37 points (nine goals, 28 assists) in 124 career playoff games with San Jose, Calgary and Detroit.Originally drafted by San Jose in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft (first round, third overall), Stuart immediately made the jump to the NHL for the Sharks. The Rocky Mountain House, Alberta native posted 36 points (ten goals, 26 assists) in 82 games as a 20-year-old rookie, becoming the first Sharks defenseman to be named to the NHL All-Rookie Team and finishing second in Calder Memorial Trophy voting as the NHL’s top rookie.The six-foot-two, 215-pounder played in 377 games with San Jose between 1999 and 2005, posting 153 points (36 goals, 117 assists). He was traded to Boston along with Marco Sturm and Wayne Primeau in exchange for current Sharks captain Joe Thornton on Nov. 30, 2005.Murray, signed by San Jose as a free agent on July 19, 2011, played in 39 games with the Sharks last season, posting four points (one goal, three assists).