Blackhawks Extend Sharp

It was said to be a priority to get Patrick Sharp signed on for the long-term in Chicago and on Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that they have done just that. The team and player have agreed upon a 5-year contract extension, which begins in the 2013 season and runs through the 2017 season, posting an annual cap hit of $5.9 million per year ($29.5 million in total).  Sharp, 29, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2012 season, but the team made sure that was not going to happen.

Sharp's current deal, which he signed in 2008, has a $3.9 million cap hit, so his raise is rather substantial.

In the 2011 season, Sharp finished 37th overall in pool scoring, 22nd among all forwards, 4th on the team, with 71 points (34 goals and 37 assists) in 74 games with the Blackhawks.  His value as a top six forward is immense, as he plays an excellent two-way game for Chicago and he has been tabbed as one of the team's core players.

When the deal becomes active, Sharp will be one of six players on the team that has a cap hit of over $5 million per season, the others being Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith.  It would be safe to say that they are the core of this Blackhawks team and they will be together for at least the next four seasons.