Chicago Blackhawks: Patrick Sharp Class Act

We knew the handwriting was on the wall for a Patrick Sharp trade ever since the Chicago Blackhawks skated off the United Center Ice in June with their third Stanley Cup in 6 seasons. It was almost a guarantee that the player with the longest tenure on the team wouldn’t be around when the puck dropped at the home opener on October 7th, but after the Brandon Saad trade it felt like there was still a chance #10 would still be around and then late on Friday night what we knew was coming happened.

Stan Bowman pulling the trigger on a deal that sent Patrick Sharp to the Dallas Stars, and it has stirred a lot of emotions. I guess fans had saved up a lot in their emotional tank thinking that it might actually not come true. A lot of feels went out last Friday night when Patrick Kane who seldom posts things on Twitter sent this tweet out.

Gonna miss my big brother and one of my best friends @10PSharp #Blackhawks
— Patrick Kane (@88PKane) July 11, 2015

Patrick Sharp had been there for Patrick Kane’s first, 100th, and 200th career goals so it just makes sense that there 8 seasons and 3 Stanley Cups their bond is stronger than anyone can imagine on and off the ice.

Now, today after a day or two of the trade starting to settle in to fans and Patrick Sharp himself, Sharp did the very classy move today and took out a full page ad in the Chicago Tribune.

This is a real classy move from a player that spent 10 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks and witnessed the lowest of lows playing at the tale end of the Dark ages of Chicago Blackhawks hockey, to the highest of highs while winning the first Stanley Cup in 49 years and being part of a dynamic three Cups in 6 seasons.

Patrick Sharp played hard and though streaky was there on both ends of the ice game in and game out. One of my favorite memories of Sharp is him trying to catch Patrick Kane after he scored the goal in Philly to win the Stanley Cup.

Sharp’s career totals in Chicago may never warrant #10 being retired to the United Center rafters though very good (239 Goals 272 Assists 511 points), but he will always be a major part of the reason the team became Champions and not just a good team that was fun to watch game in and game out.

Forget all the stupid rumors you heard about him, and remember he’s a three time Stanley Cup Champion that called Chicago home for the past 10 years! He leaves a Champion and a very Class Act!

Thanks Sharpie!

Next: Sharp Trade Concerns

More from Blackhawk Up