Blackhawks Acquire Sharp and Meloche

[Thrillhouse]

General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have acquired center Patrick Sharp and right winger Eric Meloche from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for forward Matt Ellison and a 3rd round pick in the 2006 entry draft.

“We addressed a need we had for speed and skill in getting Patrick Sharp,” said Tallon. “Sharp is a good skater and a solid two-way player who fits into our plans for the future. We hated to give up Matt Ellison, but Patrick Sharp gives us that dimension of speed and skill that we need.”

“I’m extremely happy to be joining a young team like the Blackhawks,” said Patrick Sharp. “They are a team that has been getting better every year with the group of young players they have. I know Coach Yawney and a lot of their players having played against them in the American League the last few years. I’m really looking forward to walking into that locker room and playing with those guys. It’s also great to be playing for an original six team. It will be an honor to put on the Blackhawk jersey.”

Sharp, 23, stands at 6.0 and weighs in at 197 pounds. He was Philadelphia’s 3rd round pick (95th overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 22 games this season with the Philadelphia Flyers recording 5 goals and 3 assists for 8 points and 10 penalty minutes while posting a plus/minus rating of plus-4.

Sharp has appeared in 66 career NHL games with the Flyers recording 10 goals and 5 assists for 15 points and 67 penalty minutes. He also has appeared in 167 games with the Philadelphia Phantoms of the American Hockey League recording 52 goals and 62 assist for 114 points and 164 penalty minutes. He was named the 2002-03 Philadelphia Phantoms Rookie of the Year. He was a member of last year’s Calder Cup Champion Philadelphia Phantoms.

Prior to turning pro, Sharp attended the University of Vermont for two seasons (2000-01 to 2001-02) appearing in 65 games and posting 25 goals and 28 assists for 53 points and 86 penalty minutes. He was awarded the John C. Cunningham Award as Vermont’s Most Valuable Player for the 2001-02 season.

Sharp will wear #10.

Eric Meloche, 29, stands at 5.10 and weighs in at 201 pounds. He is the son of former Blackhawk goaltender Gilles Meloche. He had been playing for the Philadelphia Phantoms in the AHL where he appeared in 10 games scoring 1 goal and adding 2 assists for 3 points with 16 penalty minutes. Meloche was also a member of last year’ Calder Cup Champion Philadelphia Phantoms.

Matt Ellison, 22, stands at 6.0 and weighs in at 192 pounds. He was the Blackhawks’ 4th round pick (128th overall) in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 26 games for the Blackhawks this season scoring 3 goals while adding 9 assists for 12 points with 17 penalty minutes and a plus/minus rating of minus 4.

Ellison made his NHL debut in the 2003-04 season appearing in 10 games for the Blackhawks and posting 1 assist. Last season, he played in 71 games for the Norfolk Admirals in the AHL and scored 14 goals while adding 37 assists for 51 points with 44 penalty minutes. He also played in 5 playoff games for Norfolk and had 1 assist with 2 penalty minutes.

[cottonzway]

WTF is wrong with the Flyers? Bad deal.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

Originally Posted by cottonzway

WTF is wrong with the Flyers? Bad deal.

Ellison is actually a decent player, and with his youth.. he could develop into a solid two way grinding forward.
Whats the outlook on Sharp these days?

[Humpzilla]

WHAT??? Um, seriously, where is the logic in this deal? I'm having trouble locating it...

[Thrillhouse]

Sounds like a good deal for Chicago but I don't know much about this Ellison character.

So long Arnason?

[cottonzway]

Originally Posted by OLLBLUEEYZ

Ellison is actually a decent player, and with his youth.. he could develop into a solid two way grinding forward.
Whats the outlook on Sharp these days?

Sharp is a good player. Can play both wing and center. He is also gritty, will fight. He put up simular numbers in the AHL as Ellison so I don't know why they traded him.

[FurnaceFace]

I like how Sharp said it will be be an honour to be apart of an orginal six team, and wear the blackhawk jersey. tells me alot about his character. Good trade for the hawks.

[BGDDYKWL]

Sharp's decent, but I don't know much about Ellison. From the stats they seem to be very similar players. Odd deal. Personally I don't mind as long as this Ellison kid doesn't take a roster spot from someone like Eager. Cause small soft players who don't hit or fight are the last thing the Flyers need more of.

[flyersrule]

what the heck was clarke thinking! I don't know why he would make a stupid trade like this.

[flyersvikes]

My feeling is they are selling out the place every time out, plus the money they are makingon the corporate suites and everything else,Clarke and Snider don't give a fk what the regular long time fans think.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

Ellison is a Grinding good hitting forward. He plays more of a physical role or at least did here with the Hawks. He's Young and can chip in the occasional goal as well. He has got into two (I think) fights this year
Allison, and Henry. Hes willing but was overmatched in both.

[flyguy82]

Originally Posted by flyersrule

what the heck was clarke thinking! I don't know why he would make a stupid trade like this.

They have a log jam at center, They're having a hard time getting everyone in the line up every night. That's my guess.

[PhlyerPhanatic]

Originally Posted by flyguy82

They have a log jam at center, They're having a hard time getting everyone in the line up every night. That's my guess.

Agreed. My guess would be Mr. Umberger has just earned himself a fulltime roster spot with this move.

[Blouin]

This benefits the Blackhawks who address a need. Flyers clear up some space.

[fridge29]

When I 1st heard the Flyers made a trade I thought they got a defenseman to help back there, especially with Pitkanen out a good amount of time. I don't see the logic in this deal. Ellison will look good in a Phantoms uniform eventually I guess.