Patrick Sharp Inks 4-Year Extension

From ChicagoBlackhawks.com: (link)

General Manager Dale Tallon announced this afternoon that the Blackhawks have signed Patrick Sharp to a 4-year contract extension.

“We’re very excited about having Patrick Sharp in the fold for the next four years,” said General Manager Dale Tallon. “His play and his attitude have been outstanding and he has taken on a real leadership role with our team. We feel that Patrick is an integral part of the future of our team.

We feel that in making this commitment to Patrick Sharp we have also made a commitment to our organization and our fans in trying to achieve our goal which is to win the Stanley Cup.”

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to continue my career with the Blackhawks” said Sharp. “I love the city of Chicago and the Chicago fans and I want to be here for a long time. I feel that our team has improved and continues to get better. Team success is a product of individual success and I will do everything I can to help bring a championship to the city of Chicago.”

Sharp was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Philadelphia Flyers along with forward Eric Meloche on December 5, 2005 in exchange for Matt Ellison and 3rd round pick in the 2006 entry draft.

Sharp, 26, has already surpassed his season high totals in goals with 22 and points with 36. He currently leads the National Hockey League in shorthanded goals with 7 and in shorthanded points with 9.

He needs three more shorthanded goals to tie the Blackhawks record for most shorthanded goals in a season with 10 which was set by Dirk Graham in the 1988-89 season. His 22 goals rank 15th in the league and his five game winning goals rank fourth among the NHL leaders.

Earlier this season, Sharp became the 8th player in Blackhawks history to score two shorthanded goals in one game when he accomplished this feat in a 3-2 win over St. Louis on November 3rd.

He joined the elite company of Stan Mikita, Eric Nesterenko, Chico Maki, Rick Paterson, Steve Sullivan, Darryl Sutter and current Blackhawks Head Coach Denis Savard all of whom scored two shorthanded goals in a game. In his NHL career, Sharp has appeared in 240 games scoring 61 goals while adding 48 assists for 109 points with 210 penalty minutes.

As a member of the Blackhawks, Sharp has appeared in 174 games scoring 51 goals to go along with 43 assists for 94 points with 143 penalty minutes. He has also played in 12 career playoff games and has scored one goal with two penalty minutes.