The Chicago Blackhawks are actively shopping veteran winger Patrick Sharp and they may have a buyer in the Washington Capitals.
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The Capitals are looking for some secondary scoring and could strike a deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions to bring Sharp into the fold - though nothing is imminent.
"So the Hawks have started the process of looking at what they have out there in terms of trade partners regarding a Patrick Sharp trade," TSN NHL Insider Pierre LeBrun said, while appearing on Edmonton's TSN 1260, according to TodaysSlapShot.com. "I know there have been at least preliminary discussions between Chicago and Washington - among other teams. That just happens to be one of the teams I know for sure have had discussions with Chicago. But again, very preliminary."
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Washington had a tremendous campaign in its first season with Barry Trotz at the helm, but a lack of goal-scoring ability hampered the club down the stretch.
The Capitals played to a 45-26-11 record in 2014-15 while finishing with 101 points and in second place in the Metropolitan Division standings.
After toppling the New York Islanders in Game 7 in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, Washington fell to the New York Rangers in the decisive do-or-die game, 2-1, in overtime in the second round. The team hasn't advanced to the Eastern Conference Final since 1998.
With big guns like Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on its top line and the emerging Evgeny Kuznetsov down the middle, the Capitals are still looking to add some more depth scoring this offseason.
The Blackhawks, fresh off of winning their third Stanley Cup in six years after taking out the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, are facing cap issues and could be looking to part ways with Sharp, who was part of all three championship teams.
Sharp carries a $5.9 million salary cap hit and the bar has been set ridiculously high by Chicago general manager Stan Bowman, who is reportedly looking for a first-round draft pick, a top-level prospect and a top-six forward in return for Sharp.
It's likely impossible for Bowman to get that return, but he's taking a bold strategy in preliminary talks.
Sharp, 34, had 16 goals, 27 assists and 43 points on the 2014-15 campaign through 68 games and was 5-10--15 in 23 playoff games.
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