Sharp signed to 5 year extension

[Shantz My Pants]

Great news. Now the rest of the trading rumorville can shut the **** up.

Last year and if the cap hadn't gone up, it could have been a possibility that Sharp could get dealt because of his contract being an easy contract to take on and could be put with a large contract (Campbell). But since none of that happened you won't hear much about any of the "core" being traded.

 

[winos5]

Ootstanding.



Props to Stan and Sharpie for getting it done.



Love the core of this team.

 

[whiteevo]

fucking a.



awesome.



he's got a basset hound, he's good in my book.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Thought he'd get a bit less but good deal nonetheless!

 

[LordKOTL]

So, philly, how's Matt Ellison working out for you?

 

[bubbleheadchief]

So, say he has an off year...who is the first to start bitching abou this price tag...besides HF50??? I for one am happy to see this possible headache is taken care of.

 

[MassHavoc]

So, say he has an off year...who is the first to start bitching abou this price tag...besides HF50??? I for one am happy to see this possible headache is taken care of.

Depends on what you consider an off year considering he does a lot of stuff that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. It's funny you ask though, because that was the same worry after he signed his previous contract. I think we'll be ok.

 

[bubbleheadchief]

Depends on what you consider an off year considering he does a lot of stuff that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. It's funny you ask though, because that was the same worry after he signed his previous contract. I think we'll be ok.

I agree, was scared shitless we were going to lose him as an FA. But the question still has to be asked, simply because of the way alot of people react to $'s/contracts around here.

 

[CaveMan]

I think I need to go have some private time now...I am just so thrilled!

 

[bubbleheadchief]

I think I need to go have some private time now...I am just so thrilled!

Just make sure you dont leave your happy sock out.

 

[MassHavoc]

I agree, was scared shitless we were going to lose him as an FA. But the question still has to be asked, simply because of the way alot of people react to s/contracts around here.

Yeah no kidding, but the rational ones like us look around and see that comparatively to some of the other contracts being thrown around, I bet he could have got at least .5 mil a year more from another team, or one of those 10-12 year lifetime cap dodging contract from someone.



I mean, if he would have waited till next year who knows. Thinks could have really got out of whack and he could have been offered Wiz's 5.5 to play defense and his 5.9 to play offense, at the same time.

 

[Kerfuffle]

My wife will be happy to hear about this deal as many other women are as well. You don't let the team heartthrob walk away.

 

[Tater]

My wife will be happy to hear about this deal as many other women are as well. You don't let the team heartthrob walk away.

Too late, they already let Sopel go.

 

[CLWolf81]

So, say he has an off year...who is the first to start bitching abou this price tag...besides HF50??? I for one am happy to see this possible headache is taken care of.

Agreed... Didn't want this potential headache to be the story of the year.



I'm glad Stan got this done as it was absolutely needed. Multi-positional players are hard to come by, especially ones as skilled as Sharp is. You don't let a guy of this caliber go... no way.



Now we can look forward to training camp with smiles on our faces.

 

[nana]

Can't say enough good things about Sharp and this will just be added to the list. He wants to be here and is 100% committed to the Hawks and this proves it to those who wanted to say he would test the waters for more $ or because he didn't want to play center.



Wow, what an awesome surprise today! Good work to the Hawks org. too!



And Mass, I agree with you, sans Toews, Sharpy wears the C.

 

[Kerfuffle]

Can't say enough good things about Sharp and this will just be added to the list. He wants to be here and is 100% committed to the Hawks and this proves it to those who wanted to say he would test the waters for more $ or because he didn't want to play center.



Wow, what an awesome surprise today! Good work to the Hawks org. too!



And Mass, I agree with you, sans Toews, Sharpy wears the C.

First off, I agree with you it's an awesome signing and I'm very pleased with it as well. Second, I disagree with the part I underlined in your statement above. The Sharp signing does NOT mean he's willing to take less money to stay here or that he didn't want to test the waters. I think a better explanation is that he preferred to take a little less now and get the guaranteed money and security of a long term deal. There is a risk of course which I'm sure he considered about playing out the next year and look for more money next offseason. And the risk to that is he receives a serious injury next season which would scare some teams away from the long term deal or he has an off season which could also effect his marketability. So when you add that to the equation it makes more sense for him to take the deal now, coming off a great year and in good health. Believe me, he's not playing Santa Claus here and leaving money on the table out of the goodness of his heart. This was a decision based on weighing all criteria and a good decision at that.

 

[the canadian dream]

Great news. Good contract for both sides and great that it got done before the season started and not half way through it causing any distractions that may have happened (although Sharpy never struck me as a guy that would let contract negotiations take him off his game).



Great news.

 

[nana]

First off, I agree with you it's an awesome signing and I'm very pleased with it as well. Second, I disagree with the part I underlined in your statement above. The Sharp signing does NOT mean he's willing to take less money to stay here or that he didn't want to test the waters. I think a better explanation is that he preferred to take a little less now and get the guaranteed money and security of a long term deal. There is a risk of course which I'm sure he considered about playing out the next year and look for more money next offseason. And the risk to that is he receives a serious injury next season which would scare some teams away from the long term deal or he has an off season which could also effect his marketability. So when you add that to the equation it makes more sense for him to take the deal now, coming off a great year and in good health. Believe me, he's not playing Santa Claus here and leaving money on the table out of the goodness of his heart. This was a decision based on weighing all criteria and a good decision at that.

I'm certain those factors came into play as well, I agree with that. I don't think the two opinions are mutually exclusive.



My personal opinion is that Sharp is committed to the team and the early signing refutes what many people on other sites/blogs/boards wanted to believe that he was going to test the waters for more $, etc. Does it also benefit him to get a great deal in place and have the security that goes along with it? Absolutely. It was a savvy move on Sharp's part, no doubt. My statement was not intended to imply that Sharp was playing Santa Claus and I definitely used a strong statement because I was so excited about the signing. I am of the opinion (which may mean jack squat) that Sharp loves Chicago and may see himself here long-term in a capacity other than just Hawks LW/2C (broadcasting? working for the org.? coaching?). I could be completely off, just a gut instinct. I hope I'm right as I think he's a great ambassador for hockey in Chicago.

 

[the canadian dream]

Agree nana.



he is the longest serving roster player on the Hawks also isn't he? There is no doubt in my mind that he wanted to be here longer and to put his mark on the team and the city even more. He is well liked by the fans and media and very well respected by his fellow teammates and the org. Throw in what would obviously be a fair deal by the Hawks and why would anyone want to look elsewhere.



I don't believe for a second he was going to test the market. I do believe he was going to take a vacation away from hockey for a couple months and then return to negotiations after a good rest. I bet this deal got done fast and on very few phone calls.

 

[roshinaya]

It's slightly more than I had hoped for, closer to market value than a true hometown discount. The Hawks have now a couple of years with no big fish to re-sign (apart from Leddy). Hopefully the cap will continue to rise and give the Hawks some breathing room in rounding out the roster with quality, although I have a feeling we might see it come down a little in the near future.