San Jose Sharks defensemen: Grades to start the 2013-14 NHL season

Brad Stuart

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

2013-14 Season Stats: 2 GP, 0 G, 0 A, plus-1, 6 SOG

Analysis: We aren’t prepared to criticize Lapierre in one sentence and then praise Brad Stuart in the next. He started the season off with an injury, and didn’t make it through the first period of his return before getting an elbow up and into the head of an opponent.

We’re going to go out on a limb and deem that unacceptable. It doesn’t matter what sweater he’s wearing, Stuart knows better and shouldn’t have made the hit. When he’s been on the ice and not serving his suspension, he’s been solid but what he’ll consistently bring to the ice isn’t known because he hasn’t been on the ice consistently.

Grade: Incomplete