Bowman assures fans Sharp staying put

Patrick Sharp fans can rest easy.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said Monday that Sharp wouldn't be going anywhere, putting to rest the rumors that the popular center was being shopped because of more salary-cap issues.

"I actually saw Sharpie today in the office and I told him he can relax, he's not going anywhere," Bowman said at the premier of the Hawks' Stanley Cup DVD, distributed by Warner Home Video and on sale Tuesday. "He's a big part of this. He means a lot to us on the ice and off the ice."

There have been rumors of Sharp and defenseman Brian Campbell both being shopped with the Hawks in a financial bind to get goalie Antti Niemi signed and remain under the NHL's salary cap.

Sharp and Campbell attended Monday's premiere along with Dave Bolland.

"I'm happy to be a Blackhawk, proud to be one, and I'm confident I'll be here," Sharp said.

Nearly half the roster that won the organization's first Stanley Cup in 49 years has been turned over because of salary-cap issues. Key Hawks such as Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd and Kris Versteeg have been traded, while Adam Burish and John Madden were allowed to leave as free agents.

Nevertheless, the off-season celebration of winning the Cup continues for the players.

"I don't think it takes away from anything," Sharp said. "We can always look back and know we won a championship together. Just imagine if we had lost that final series against Philadelphia and then these changes happen. That would have been much more hard to take. We'll always have that special bond."

Campbell's name has surfaced in trade rumors because of his $7.1 million salary-cap hit. He still has six years left on his contract.

"You looked at what was coming and there had to be changes," Campbell said. "It's part of hockey and the business side of it. There's nothing more you can say about it.

"Stan is doing the best job he can do, and he's making the moves he feels he needs to make to be the best team again next year. We talked during the playoffs, saying let's get this done because it's not going to be the same team next year.

"Everything is out there for everyone to see. Everyone is disappointed, but there are bigger opportunities there for some guys."

Bolland has lost his two linemates in Ladd and Versteeg from what was one of the Hawks' best lines in the playoffs.

"They're both gone, so it'll be a little different for me this season," Bolland said.

He has tried not to dwell on the changes that have been made, preferring to enjoy the Cup win as long as possible.

"I'm still taking in this moment and I'm going to ride with it until training camp starts," Bolland said. "You don't get this moment a lot, so we're going to enjoy it and have fun with it because this is our time."

Bowman, meanwhile, said there was nothing new to report on negotiations with Niemi, who has his arbitration hearing set for July 29.

"In some ways it's good to have a deadline because it will push things instead of it being indefinite," Bowman said. "We still have almost 10 or 11 days until the actual date, so we have enough time."

Bowman said the Hawks are close to announcing new deals for wingers Jack Skille and Bryan Bickell as well as defenseman Jordan Hendry.