Hawks sign Sharp to 4-year extension

Patrick Sharp, who leads the NHL in shorthanded goals, has signed a 4-year contract extension with the Blackhawks, general manager Dale Tallon announced Thursday.

"His play and his attitude have been outstanding and he has taken on a real leadership role with our team," Tallon said. "We feel that Patrick is an integral part of the future of our team."

Sharp was acquired by the Blackhawks from the Philadelphia Flyers along with forward Eric Meloche on Dec. 5, 2005 in exchange for Matt Ellison and third-round pick in the 2006 entry draft.

Sharp, 26, has already surpassed his season high totals in goals with 22 and points with 36. He currently leads the National Hockey League in shorthanded goals with 7 and in shorthanded points with 9. He needs three more shorthanded goals to tie the Blackhawks record for most shorthanded goals in a season with 10, which was set by Dirk Graham in the 1988-89 season. His 22 goals rank 15th in the league and his five game winning goals rank fourth among the NHL leaders.

In a minor deal, the Blackhawks obtained right wing Craig Adams from the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Adams, 30, is in his seventh season in the NHL. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward has appeared in 427 games during his career, recording 33 goals and 44 assists for 77 points and 337 penalty minutes.

In 40 games with the Hurricanes this season, Adams had 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points to go with 34 penalty minutes. Adams was a member of the Hurricanes' Stanley Cup Championship team in 2005-06.