2. Patrick Sharp
It’s hard not to want a guy like Patrick Sharp in your locker room. He’s a passionate leader, brings a lot of wisdom (and three Stanley Cup rings) to the table, is a great mentor, and can contribute on a nightly basis. He always strives to give his best and do what’s best for the team.
That’s why he just finished up a five-year deal with $5.9 million AAV. But where is the 35-year-old going from here? That’s anyone’s guess.
Sharp will be a free agent on July 1, and would likely be one of the most sought after free agents if he were completely healthy at the moment. He underwent hip surgery in late March after fighting through the pain for a few months in an effort to help the team (again, he’s quite the natural leader). But even with the surgery, there are still teams considering a deal with Sharp.
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One of those teams could be the Dallas Stars. At the draft this past weekend, Stars GM Jim Nill stated that he would be talking with both Hemsky and Sharp to see where they were and if a possible new deal would be possible. But that’s typical procedure and doesn’t carry a lot of weight with it.
SenShot
Sharp spent the past two seasons with the Dallas Stars after being traded to Big D in the summer of 2015 by the cap-strapped Chicago Blackhawks. He made a quick impact, scoring 20 goals and tallying 55 points in 76 games while skating alongside the first and second lines. Wherever he played, he seemed to make the entire line better.
This past year, however, was rather atrocious. Sharp put up eight goals and 18 points in 48 games, along with a -22 rating. But he had plenty weighing down on him, including a concussion, a nagging hip injury, and his father being diagnosed with cancer.
He’s still a quality forward that can play top line minutes (assuming he returns fully healthy from his surgery). And that’s the one lingering factor in his negotiations with any team.
From what has been reported, his recovery is on-track and going as planned. If he does come back healthy, could he make a return in Victory Green?
It seems like a large percentage of Dallas Stars fans would like to see him back, and they have every right to. His presence on the team is valuable in more ways than one and if he were to sign at a reduced rate, the Stars could use an in-house veteran to solve their right wing problem and know exactly what they are getting in the process.