Could the Blackhawks trade Patrick Sharp?
By David Rogers
Trade rumors have circled around Patrick Sharp for quite some time. The Chicago Blackhawks have an impossible task of squeezing in all of their stars and young talent beneath the salary cap and will likely have to part with at least a couple significant pieces over the summer. Until now, most of the Sharp trade talk has been speculation, but now NHL insider Bob McKenzie believes the Blackhawks are after a first-round pick and Sharp may get it done, posting on Twitter:
Really good ? on CHI. I believe Hawks want to get a 1st round pick in this draft. Patrick Sharp, I believe, will be traded. May get it there
Sharp is under contract through 2016-17 and carries a cap hit of $5.9 million a season. With the rise of other younger skaters (Teuvo Teravainen for instance) combined with Sharp’s pretty sizable cap hit, he seems like a logical asset to move.
A Sharp trade has seemed like a possibility for quite some time, but the Blackhawks patiently held on to the forward. This cautious strategy may pay off as the club can now seek out a first-round pick in a draft that has some very impressive talent.
Numerous teams will want Sharp, but which organization will be willing to part with a top pick and be willing to pay Sharp’s contract? That remains to be seen.
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