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There's a small, but measurable segment of the North American economy that can be summed up as follows:
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
EBay, Craigslist, etc.
For primarily salary cap reasons, the Chicago Blackhawks can no longer afford to pay Patrick Sharp $5.9 million a season. But based on reported early interest on the trade market, some teams can and one likely will.
Yesterday, hockey writer BD Gallof tweeted that an NHL source had told him the Hawks' asking price for Sharp is something along the lines of a first round pick, a prospect and a young top 6 player.
BD is a good guy. Solid. And has sources.
Within seconds of this tweet dropping, the blogosphere collectively melted down in disbelief. Even I said that Gallof's source or Stan Bowman must be smoking crack.
But, really, how far off is that price from what Sharp will actually bring back?
Hawk fans, like hockey fans in general, tend to develop an extreme herd mentality. The conventional wisdom on Sharp has been he's over the hill, his skills are fading, etc. The narrative becomes accepted reality in the absence of conclusive proof.
But often, the opinions of NHL talent evaluators aren't in line with the conventional wisdom on blog message board threads.
Not so fast. Let's look at what Sharp is today. He can still skate. He notched 15 points and +2 in 23 playoff games just concluded, playing left wing on the 3rd and 1st lines of the Cup winning team, taking some draws, and manning the point on the power play.
He's a 30-goal scorer, and a three-time Cup winner whose worn an "A" on a team rife with leaders for several seasons. And he can still play.
So for a team looking to add a versatile top-6 forward to its roster, who can score and skate, at $5.9 million for 2 years? Hmmmm.
For market valiue, let's look at what Dean Lombardi gave up for Jeff Carter at the trade deadline in 2012.
On February 23, that year, the Kings sent Jack Johnson and a first round pick to the Blue Jackets for Carter: a highly paid, 3-time 30 goal scorer, right-handed shooting, top 6 center/wing with some "buyer beware" attached to him.
Sound like anyone we know?
Some might argue Carter was younger than Sharp, but he also had a rather serious recurring foot injury at the time that many felt rendered him a major risk going forward.
Some might argue the Blackhawks are not in a strong selling position on Sharp—they have to move him—but so essentially did the Blue Jackets. Carter had griped his way out of Philadelphia, and then did the same in Columbus.
The point is, whiile Chicago might not haul in a first rounder and a player of Johnson's caliber and upside for Sharp, they also just might. Or they will come close.
Typically, the asking price for a veteran of Sharp's pedigree is going to be . . . a player, a prospect and a first round pick. Do teams always get all that? No. But that really is the typical asking price.
I'm going to guess, as I did on my message thread yesterday, that the Hawks get a first round pick (latter part of the round, between 15 and 30) and a prospect or young player for Sharp—and that prospect or player could be good enough to help them in some capacity this coming season.
What about you?
I also think Sharp will end up in Florida. Many destinations have been discussed for Sharp in the last 24 hours—on this blog and elsewhere.
Where do you think he'll end up?
Compensation/destination. Make your pick and put it on the message board thread. We'll revisit it when we know the actual answers.
All for now,
JJ