Patrick Sharp traded to Stars by Blackhawks in 4-player deal

Veteran forward Patrick Sharp will not be returning to Chicago to help the Blackhawks defend their Stanley Cup championship.

General manager Stan Bowman on Friday dealt the 33-year-old to Dallas along with defensive prospect Stephen Johns for blue-liner Trevor Daley and forward Ryan Garbutt.

Sharp, who has a $5.9 million US cap hit over the next two seasons, is coming off a disappointing campaign, mustering only 43 points, his lowest output in a full season since 2006-07 (35 points). The Winnipeg native added 15 points in 23 Stanley Cup playoff contests.

Sharp appeared in 679 regular-season games with Chicago the past 10 seasons, posting 511 points on 239 goals and 272 assists.

He will provide leadership for our group and we love his shoot-first mentality.- Stars GM Jim Nill on newcomer Patrick Sharp

"He was one of our leaders on the ice, most notably as an alternate captain for several seasons, as well as off the ice with his countless contributions and volunteer work with team partners, sponsors and Blackhawks fans everywhere," Bowman said in a statement released by the team. "He will forever be a Blackhawk."

Sharp has represented Canada three times at international tournaments, winning a gold medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia and competing at two world championships.

"Patrick's track record speaks for itself having won three Stanley Cups, a Calder Cup [AHL] and an Olympic gold medal," Stars GM Jim Nill said in a statement. "He will provide leadership for our group and we love his shoot-first mentality."

Daley, 31, is fresh off a season in which he recorded career highs in goals (16), assists (22) and points (33) in 68 regular-season games. The Toronto native has 231 points in 756 NHL regular-season outings.

"I think the primary emphasis is more of an old-fashioned hockey trade," Bowman said. "It wasn't just trying to get [cap] space. It was also down the road. That was really the thing that we talked about when we were in discussion with Dallas, trying to get something that could help us right now."

2-way threat

Daley tops that list for Chicago after bolstering his reputation as a two-way player.

The 43rd overall draft pick in 2002, he ranked second among Stars defencemen in points and second on the club with 123 blocked shots.

"He's certainly had an uptick with his offensive game," Bowman said of Daley. "We've always marveled at Trevor's ability to skate. I think he's going to be a great fit for the style of hockey that we play here."

Joining Daley in Chicago is the 29-year-old Garbutt, a native of Winnipeg coming off a 25-points season in which he established a career high in assists with 17.

Bowman got Nill to agree to keep half of the $1.8 million on the final year of Garbutt's deal.

Johns, 23, had four goals and 21 points in 51 games with Chicago's American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Ill. The six-foot-three, 230-pounder paced the team with seven points in eight Calder Cup playoff games.

Johns' plus-31 rating was tops on the IceHogs and tied for first in the league.

"Stephen adds to the young defencemen that we have coming up in our system," Nill said. "He brings an element of size and physicality to our mix and we look forward to him coming in and competing."