Avalanche sign Brad Stuart to 2-year, $7.2M extension

The Colorado Avalanche have locked up offseason acquisition Brad Stuart, keeping the veteran defenseman under contract through his age-37 season.

Colorado acquired Stuart from the San Jose Sharks for a pair of draft picks on July 1. The extension is for the same annual cap hit as his previous three-year deal, signed with San Jose.

Stuart saw his ice-time average drop below 20 minutes for the first time in his career last season with the Sharks, and in extending him at the same rate, Colorado seems to be ignoring the fact that his teammates have played better without him over the last three seasons.