After three Stanley Cup wins in the Windy City, Patrick Sharp's hockey career will continue deep in the heart of Texas.
The Chicago Blackhawks on Friday dealt the Thunder Bay forward to the Dallas Stars, along with prospect Stephen Johns in return for defenseman Trevor Daley and forward Ryan Garbutt.
Sharp said it's always emotional being traded, but he and his wife are ready to take the next step in his hockey voyage, adding they feel lucky to be going to an organization like the Stars.
It's not like he didn't know the deal was likely in the works, though try as hard as he tried, it was tough to not let the rumours weigh he and his family down.
“I’ve learned over the years not to listen to too many rumours or where they are coming from, unless they are coming from Stan (Bowman, Chicago GM) or my agent,” Sharp said in an interview with Mark Stepneski published on the Dallas Stars website. “But to hear the trade speculation over the past couple days and weeks, I wouldn’t say was weighing on our family, but it was getting annoying to the point that we just wanted to get something done.”
Still, it's never easy to deal with being dealt.
“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,” he said. “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," Sharp told the Stars site.
"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. … I am looking forward to getting down there and meeting my teammates, the coaching staff and getting started with the new team.”
Bowman had nothing but kind words for his now former forward.
"On behalf of the entire Blackhawks organization, I'd like to thank Patrick for all that he helped our franchise accomplish during his time in Chicago, especially serving an integral role in bringing us three Stanley Cup championships," gBowman said in a statement reported on NHL.com.
"He was one of our leaders on the ice, most notably as an alternate captain for several seasons, as well as off the ice with his countless contributions and volunteer work with team partners, sponsors and Blackhawks fans everywhere. He will forever be a Blackhawk and we wish him and his family nothing but the best in Dallas and beyond."
The 33-year-old Sharp won Cups with the Hawks in 2010, 2013 and again last month, but his role with Chicago diminished in this year’s post-season as he found himself demoted from the high-scoring team’s top two lines.
Sharp, who joined the Blackhawks in 2005-06 after being traded by Philadelphia, played 679 games in Chicago scoring 239 goals and 511 points, the 15th most in franchise history.
His goal total is the 11th highest by a Blackhawks player.
The Hawks were looking to free up salary cap space this summer, and already traded forward Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Forwards Brad Richards (Detroit) and Antoine Vermette (Arizona), left via free agency.
Sharp, drafted in the third round by Philadelphia in 2001, has two years and $11.8 million left on his contract, a $5.9-milliion annual cap hit.
"Patrick's track record speaks for itself having won three Stanley Cups, a Calder Cup and an Olympic gold medal (with Canada in 2014)," Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a release. "He will provide leadership for our group and we love his shoot first mentality."
Sharp has 249 goals and 526 points in 745 NHL games, and another 81 points in 129 playoff games, a total that includes 43 goals.
The Stars, led by NHL scoring champion Jamie Benn and high-scoring forward Jason Spezza, were 41-31-10 last season, but missed the playoffs for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
