Summer Assignment 2014: Patrick Sharp

Jun 1, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Patrick Sharp (10) celebrates his goal during the second period in game seven of the Western Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Summer Assignment 2014: Patrick Sharp

Regular Season

Games Played: 82 (2nd overall in league)

Goals: 34

Assists: 44

Points: 78

Plus/Minus: 13

Hits: 55

Blocked Shots: 27

Post Season

Games: 19

Goals: 5

Assists: 5

Points: 10

Plus/Minus: -2

Hits: 34

Blocked Shots: 12

Olympics

Games Played: 5

Goals: 1

Assists: 0

Points: 1

Contract Status: 3 Years remaining on 5-year deal with a cap hit of $5.9 million per season

2013 Over/Under Number: 32 Goals, 32 Assists

Season Review: It’s pretty hard to follow a season like 2012-13 (lockout notwithstanding) that ended up treating the Chicago Blackhawks so well and led them to their second Stanley Cup in four seasons. But overall, Patrick Sharp demonstrated once again over the course of this season why he’s an integral part to the core group.

78 points in 82 regular season games? Adding two hat tricks (within an eight-day span, no less) to make a career total of 4? Not too shabby.

He also stayed pretty healthy considering his relative age, length of time in the league, and number of games played. These factors most likely lead to his selection as part of Team Canada for the 2014 Olympics. He might not have seen as much ice time there as he usually does otherwise, but he managed to tally a goal and bring back a gold medal.

In the postseason, however, it seemed as though Sharp couldn’t buy a goal: despite a whopping 60 shots on goal (5th in the league for now), he only managed to score 5 playoff goals in 19 games (one of them coming in the fateful, final Game 7) and ended up with a -2.

It certainly wasn’t the postseason he or any of the Hawks had hoped for. But looking at the season holistically, there are a lot of positives to take away. There are so many, that some are wondering whether he could be a very valuable bargaining chip in a trade during the off-season.

Grade: B+

What is your grade for Sharp?

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