RUMOR: The Capitals have talked with the Blackhawks about acquiring veteran winger Patrick Sharp.
REPORTED BY: Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune
DETAILS: As Monday's trade deadline looms, the Capitals are said to be searching for a winger to play alongside Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom on their top line. Enter Sharp and the cap-strapped Blackhawks, who present the greatest opportunity for Washington to acquire a bona fide top six forward before the deadline. Sharp, 33, has one year remaining on his contract after this season with a $5.9 million cap hit.
THIS SEASON: Sharp is tied for fifth among Blackhawks forwards with 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. Less desirable, his minus-13 rating is worst on the team.
SN's TAKE: It has been long rumored that the Blackhawks could look to trade Sharp to shave salary, but with Patrick Kane (broken clavicle) on long-term injured reserve, Chicago has an extra $6 million to play with for deadline deals.
General manager Stan Bowman said Friday (per the Chicago Sun-Times) the Blackhawks will look to acquire a forward. If that's the goal, then it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to ship out one of the team's top scorers, especially with Kane on the shelf. CSN Chicago's Tracey Myers reported Friday night that the Blackhawks have asked about Caps forward Joel Ward.
There have been other rumors the Capitals are interested in moving defenseman Mike Green before the deadline. A Green-for-Sharp swap would have made more sense before Chicago acquired defenseman Kimmo Timonen on Friday. This trade profiles more as an offseason possibility.