European Fan Club of Colorado Avalanche

Stuart to play 1000th game

Will Become 100th Defenseman In NHL History To Play 1,000 Contests

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart is scheduled to play his 1,000th NHL game tonight (Thursday, Dec. 18) when the Avs take on the Pittsburgh Penguins at the CONSOL Energy Center (5:00 p.m. MT, Altitude).

Stuart, 35, will become the 293rd player in NHL history – and 100th defenseman – to reach that milestone. The Rocky Mountain House, Alberta native joins Adam Foote, Todd Gill, Milan Hejduk, Ian Laperriere, Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic as the only players to appear in their 1,000th NHL contest as a member of the Avalanche.

Stuart is in his first season with Colorado after being acquired from San Jose on July 1, 2014. He has skated in 14 games for the Avalanche this year, recording 37 hits and 32 blocked shots while averaging 19:53 of ice time. Stuart has missed the last 16 games due to a hamstring injury he suffered in his 999th career game on Nov. 4 vs. Vancouver.

Selected third overall by San Jose in the first round of the 1998 Entry Draft, Stuart is the fifth player from that draft class to reach the 1,000-games mark, joining Vincent Lecavalier (1,122), Robyn Regehr (1,051), Brad Richards (1,014) and David Legwand (1,008).

Now in his 15th NHL season, Stuart has spent most of his career with San Jose but has also played for Boston, Calgary, Los Angeles and Detroit. In 999 career games, Stuart has 322 points (77g/245a) with a +10 plus/minus rating and 555 penalty minutes. He made his NHL debut on Oct. 2, 1999 and went on to be named to the 2000 NHL All-Rookie Team and finished runner-up for the Calder Trophy that season. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound rearguard has dressed in 142 career playoff games, notching 40 points (10g/30a). Stuart helped the Red Wings capture the 2008 Stanley Cup championship.

At the international level, Stuart represented Team Canada at both the 2001 and 2006 IIHF World Championship. He also played for his country at the 1999 IIHF World Junior Championship. Prior to turning pro, Stuart was named the Canadian Major Junior Defenseman of the Year in his final season in the Western Hockey League with Regina and Calgary in 1998-99.

The Avalanche organization plans to honor Stuart for his milestone prior to Colorado’s next home game on Tuesday, Dec. 23, against the St. Louis Blues.

BRAD STUART’S LANDMARK GAMES

Game #1 Oct. 2, 1999 vs. Calgary

Game #100 Nov. 18, 2000 vs. NY Islanders

Game #200 Jan. 5, 2002 vs. Florida

Game #300 Dec. 10, 2003 at Anaheim

Game #400 Jan. 26, 2006 vs. Washington

Game #500 March 25, 2007 at Chicago

Game #600 Nov. 28, 2008 vs. Columbus

Game #700 Jan. 29, 2010 vs. Nashville

Game #800 Oct. 21, 2011 vs. Columbus

Game #900 March 10, 2013 at Colorado

Game #999 Nov. 4, 2014 vs. Vancouver