Trade rumors surrounded Patrick Sharp for quite some time and a deal finally developed which shipped Sharp to the Dallas Stars. A trade always seemed likely as the Chicago Blackhawks desperately needed to shed salary, but did Sharp buy into the rumors?
According to the site for the Stars, Sharp knew a trade was coming but it still came as a shock when the official news broke.
“I knew it was coming. When I was traded from Philadelphia to Chicago, I knew that was coming also, and it still comes as a shock. When it actually happens, there are a lot of different things going on. You are trying to take care of your family, your friends and your personal situation. I can’t say anything bad about the Blackhawks. I really enjoyed my time with the Hawks. I’ve grown into the person I am today because of that organization. I look forward to reconnection with those guys one day, whether it is playing against them or seeing them in the offseason, but right now I am really excited to get down to Dallas.”
Along with Sharp’s comments, we also have the first look of him in a Stars uniform.
Welcome to Dallas, Patrick! pic.twitter.com/wYZ8PNsPBS
— z – Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) July 20, 2015
Sharp also discussed all of the usual topics you’d expect to hear when a team makes a major trade. He’s excited to join the Stars and he’s eager to tackle a new chapter in his career.
As for knowing a trade was coming, it didn’t take psychic abilities to foresee a deal. Aside from the countless rumors, there was simply no way that the Blackhawks could retain all of their talent following their Stanley Cup victory. The team needed to move at least a couple players and Sharp was the most obvious candidate.
Of course, the Blackhawks have been through this before. There is the argument that this fire sale was heads above the rest in terms of talent (Sharp, Brandon Saad – maybe more to come), but the organization has proven they know how to come back and win again even after shedding significant talent.
