Savard boosts Sharp for Selke

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Patrick Sharp's bust-out season goes deeper than the 35 goals he took into Wednesday's game here against the Blue Jackets.

Sharp was plus-20 and was tied for the NHL lead with 7 short-handed goals, numbers that in the opinion of Blackhawks coach Denis Savard make Sharp a legitimate candidate for the Selke Trophy, which goes annually to the league's top defensive forward.

"His plus-minus speaks for itself," Savard said. "I don't know what that trophy means, really, if it's defensive player of the year, but he's all-around and is like a rover in football. He plays left wing, right wing, center and against the best lines on a lot of nights.

"From last year, the last 40 games on through this year, he's done that job."

Sharp has gone well past his previous career high of 20 goals set last season, and Savard sees the potential there to be a 30-plus goal scorer every season for the 26-year-old.

"With 35 you could go back to 25, but you could also go to 45," Savard said. "Because of his ability, he's proven and showed that he is going to be a guy who can be in that 30 range."

Sharp would need a big finish to reach 40 and become the first Hawk to do that since Tony Amonte netted 43 in the 1999-2000 season.

Williams here now: While the Hawks have every intention of trying to re-sign Jason Williams before he becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1, it will need to be at their price.

According to a team source, Williams wants a deal similar to the one the Hawks gave Patrick Sharp worth $15.6 million over four years.

The Hawks would like to sign Williams for closer to $3 million a year, which still is a considerable bump from the $1.6 million he now earns.

"That won't be determined until the end of the season," Denis Savard said. "I had a good talk with him and told him I don't even think of and that no matter what, he was going to get a good contract whether it's here or someplace else.

"I know I didn't play him much in Nashville (Saturday), but if there are some guys not having a good night, and it's not just Willy, I have to make sure I play the guys that are going," said Savard. "But if you look at the overall picture, he's played well for us."

Much improved: Cam Barker, who missed his third straight game with a concussion, could return Saturday at St. Louis. Robert Lang was back in the lineup Wednesday with Troy Brouwer being returned to Rockford.