Patrick Sharp returns to help Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks have lost some key pieces this offseason and they continued the rebuilding process Saturday by bringing back an important player from their championship days.
Forward Patrick Sharp, who helped the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup three times (2010, 2013, 2015), agreed to a one-year contract with an NHL salary-cap charge of $800,000, according to CapFriendly.com.

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Sharp, 35, who played 10 seasons with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Dallas Stars on July 10, 2015, was one of five free agent acquisitions. Chicago also signed forward Tommy Wingels, 29, forward Lance Bouma, 27, goalie J-F Berube, 25, and defenseman Jordan Oesterle, 25.
"It was a difficult process, something that was a new experience for me, but at the end of the day the decision to return home to Chicago was really one I couldn't pass up," said Sharp, who's recovering from hip surgery he had March 28.
"I'm excited. My wife is excited. The family is thrilled to be coming back home, but I want to make it clear that I'm coming back home to contribute to the Blackhawks on the ice in whatever role that may be. I'm coming back to make some more great memories and try to help this team win another Stanley Cup. That's the reason I'm coming home."
According to TSN, Sharp can make an additional $200,000 by reaching a performance bonus for games played. It's a big drop in pay for Sharp, whose previous contract had a cap charge of $5.9 million, according to CapFriendly.com.

Sharp said other teams offered more money but couldn't match his feelings for the Blackhawks. His return was the Blackhawks' second reunion in as many weeks, following their reacquisition of forward Brandon Saad in a trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on June 23.
Saad and Sharp will try to offset Chicago's recent losses in talent and experience. In the past 10 days, Chicago traded defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson to the Arizona Coyotes, sent left wing Artemi Panarin to the Blue Jackets (for Saad), and lost right wing Marian Hossa (skin disorder) for at least this season.
"Obviously we've accomplished an awful lot with [Sharp] previously," general manager Stan Bowman said. "But this is not really about looking backward. This is looking forward. We're looking ahead. Patrick, he's always trained very hard. I expect him to bring a lot of speed to the table. I think that's the one thing that he still has. He's a great skater. He knows how to put the puck in the net. That's something that some players just have a knack for, getting open and getting their shot off, and Patrick certainly can do that."
Sharp had 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists) in 48 games with the Stars last season. He sustained a concussion Oct. 20 and missed 14 games. After returning to the lineup Nov. 19, he played seven games before being placed on injured reserve Dec. 3 with concussion-like symptoms. Sharp also played through a hip injury that required season-ending surgery.
Sharp was given a timetable of 4-6 months for a full recovery but said he is confident he will be ready for the start of training camp in September.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Sharp said. "I got the surgery [at the end of March] and it provided me with a ton of time to get healthy. I've played a lot of pro hockey in my life. I know where I need to be physically and mentally to start a season, and the hip surgery, the time that I've given myself for that surgery is plenty."
Wingels and Bouma were signed to add grit, depth and experience to Chicago's checking lines, which will also draw from a stockpile of young forwards.
"[Bouma] and Tommy Wingels, in particular, they're guys you notice out there with the way they play," Bowman said. "They play maybe a more simple style, but you know when they're on the ice, and I think that's something we were looking to add. I think we're in a much better place right now than we were before today."