After being bought out by the Winnipeg Jets this summer, Mark Stuart had trouble finding another contract around the NHL. He attended part of Chicago Blackhawks camp after signing a professional tryout, but was cut just ten days later. Now it’s clear his NHL future will be on hold, if there is any future left at all. Stuart has signed with Adler Mannheim of the DEL in Germany for the rest of this season. There he’ll be joining fellow NHL veterans Carlo Colaiacovo—who is in his second season with the club—and Devin Setoguchi.
Stuart has played 673 games in the NHL, recording just 93 points. His game was as a straight defensive defenseman, killing penalties and providing some physicality in his own end. Last year he suited up for 42 games with the Jets, but it wasn’t enough to justify his $2.625MM salary, or his roster spot.
He’ll likely head into free agency next summer trying to make a return to the league, but it seems unlikely that at 34 he’ll be able to find work in the NHL. As the league goes further and further towards speed and mobility, Stuart would likely have to settle for an AHL contract or find work in Europe once again.