The Atlanta Thrashers signed defenseman Mark Stuart to a three-year deal worth $5.1 million Monday. The deal will pay him $1.6 million next season, $1.7 million in 2012-13 and $1.8 million in 2013-14. "Coming here I didn't really expect anything, just to come in here and play well and help the team," Stuart told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was nice to get a deal done. I like it here a lot. I've very comfortable here. I like the people a lot and I think the team has a lot of potential." Stuart, 26, was part of the Boston Bruins' cap-clearing trade Feb. 18 that sent him and forward Blake Wheeler to the Thrashers. The Bruins received defenseman Boris Valabik and center Rich Peverley in the deal. Read more: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6166721