The San Jose Mercury News indicates Brad Stuart told the Detroit Red Wings months ago that he preferred to play on a team closer to his San Jose home next season.

Sunday, the Sharks did what they could to make that a reality, acquiring the rights to the defenseman who was their first-round pick in the 1998 draft with the hopes of signing him to long-term deal by July 1.

Stuart, 32, can become an unrestricted free agent that day. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson agreed to send minor league center Andrew Murray and a conditional draft pick to the Red Wings for three weeks of exclusive negotiating access with Stuart.

“Brad is a player we are very familiar with — a physical, team-first defenseman who is tough to play against, which is exactly the kind of mentality we want our team to possess,” Wilson said.

If the Sharks sign Stuart, the Red Wings pick up San Jose’s seventh-round pick in 2014; if Stuart signs elsewhere, the Sharks owe the Red Wings nothing further.

Stuart’s wife, teenage stepdaughter and two younger boys have remained in the San Jose area while Stuart played with Detroit. The resulting strain prompted him to announce last season that he wasn’t likely to return after his four-year, $15 million contract expires at the end of this month.

“I hope it is my final destination,” Stuart said after being picked up by San Jose. “I’ve lived here in the offseason ever since I was traded, and I have a lot of respect for the organization.”

Stuart said he has loved his time in Detroit, where he helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2008. But spending more time with family became a higher priority than returning to the Red Wings.

“We tried to never go too long without seeing each other if only for a day, but it does kind of wear you down mentally,” Stuart said.