Ex-Blackhawk Sharp juggles emotions, excitement in trade to Dallas
Patrick Sharp forged quite a legacy in Chicago.
In 10 years with the Blackhawks, the alternate captain helped win three Stanley Cup titles in six seasons, including a seven-game series victory over Tampa Bay in June, and a 2011 NHL All-Star MVP nod.
“I can tell you that I’m extremely proud of everything I’ve accomplished in the last 10 years, both on and off the ice,” Sharp said Saturday. “Sometimes what gets lost in pro sports is all the off-ice stuff the Blackhawks have allowed me to do, whether it’s interacting with fans or helping out in a charitable way or just being a member of the city of Chicago, representing the Blackhawks.”
His 14th season in the NHL will begin a new chapter after he was the centerpiece of a four-player trade between Chicago and the Dallas Stars on Friday, bringing Sharp and defenseman Stephen Johns to Dallas for defenseman Trevor Daley and forward Ryan Garbutt.
The deal was the second time Sharp has been traded in his career, after moving from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Blackhawks during the 2003-04 season. While it was nice to end the trade speculation stemming from Chicago’s salary-cap issues, the second time around wasn’t any easier, he said.
“I knew that was coming also and it still comes as a shock when it actually happens,” he said. “There’s a lot of different things going on.”
The 33-year-old left wing comes to Dallas after a 43-point, 16-goal regular season and a 15-point playoff run. He led the Blackhawks with eight power-play goals.
Stars general manager Jim Nill said Sharp has added value as a veteran voice in a locker room for a young team.
“I was looking to add a guy like Patrick Sharp to get that leadership. Anytime you can add someone who’s won Stanley Cups, you can’t replace that.”
Sharp said he is familiar with most of the top players in the Dallas lineup, including captain Jamie Benn. The two were teammates for Canada in the 2014 Olympics. Sharp is also represented by the same agent as Jason Spezza, and Sharp said the two have been in contact since the trade was announced.
Sharp is also close with goaltender Antti Niemi, whom Nill also acquired this off-season. The two were teammates on the 2010 Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks.
“As far as Antti, I can tell you he’s a great teammate and a great goaltender,” Sharp said. “He competes hard in practice every day, and that shows in how he plays in the games as well. He’s a guy that I look back to our 2010 season was a huge part of us winning our first Stanley Cup in Chicago.”
And Sharp’s role in those three championships can’t be ignored. He has 81 points in 129 postseason games.
After taking the weekend to recover from the news, Sharp said he and his wife, who has never been to Texas, will make a trip to Dallas to meet teammates and get acquainted with the area.
“It’s going to be an emotional time switching cities and switching teams, but I think my wife and I are excited about a new chapter in our career and our lives,” he said. “We consider ourselves very lucky to be going to the organization the Stars have and it will be great.”
This story was originally published July 11, 2015 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Ex-Blackhawk Sharp juggles emotions, excitement in trade to Dallas."