Report: Blackhawks, Capitals talked about possible Patrick Sharp trade
Could the Blackhawks trade Patrick Sharp? According to one report, they've discussed doing just that with the Washington Capitals.
After the Chicago Blackhawks swung a deal to acquire defenseman Kimmo Timonen from the Philadelphia Flyers, it sounds like they might not be done. According to Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, the Blackhawks have had dialogue with the Washington Capitals about a possible trade involving forward Patrick Sharp.
The Capitals have been rumored to be in the market for a top-six winger to possibly fit in with Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on the top line. Grabbing a former 30-goal man like Sharp certainly would fit into that category.
Sharp, 33, has two years left on his contract after this season at a $5.9 million cap hit. Considering the Blackhawks are going to dealing with $21 million in cap space taken up by Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane combined, Sharp has been one of the players that has popped up in rumors as the one that could be on the way out to alleviate the cap crunch.
That said, consider that the Blackhawks are already without Kane for the rest of the regular season and a good portion of the playoffs. If Sharp were to get moved, you'd think it would be more likely in the offseason than ahead of the trade deadline.
Sharp is having a down year offensively for the Blackhawks. He has 32 points in 48 games this year including 10 goals. Though he was injured earlier in the season, Sharp's per-game production has taken a significant hit in 2014-15.
He had 34 goals and 78 points in 82 games last season and has eclipsed the 30-goal mark four times in a Blackhawks uniform.
That kind of offensive history could make him a fit in Washington, especially if he ended up on a wing with Backstrom and Ovechkin. But the real question that comes up next is what the Caps would have to give up in order to acquire a forward of Sharp's caliber?
With the term remaining on his deal, his offensive productivity and the two Stanley Cups on his resume, Sharp probably would not come cheap. Additionally, with the Blackhawks looking to remain competitive this season -- which was made all the more clear by the Timonen trade -- they'd probably need a substantial roster player in return.
This is at the very least an interesting twist in the pre-deadline rumor mill.
