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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Patrick Sharp Shuts Season Down Opts for Surgery

Sharp to have season ending hip surgery, also named Masterton trophy nominee, Texas Stars get a win. Playoff format needs tweaking

Prior to the trade deadline most fans and hockey pundits thought Dallas Stars forward Patrick Sharp would be traded to a team that was battling for a playoff spot. When he wasn’t traded it was revealed that he had a lower body injury, that would require surgery.

He kept playing with it trying to help the Stars get into the playoffs. Since the team is all but mathematically eliminated he opted for hip surgery.

"It gets to a point where it affects your play, and you're not helping the team as much as you probably would if you were healthy," Sharp said. "It's tough to make that decision to sit out and get healthy, but I think it is the right thing to do."

Sharp was in the final year of his contract and will be come a UFA. After his recovery Stars GM Jim Nill will evaluate him before offering a new contract.

"We are going to get the surgery done and let him heal. He's going to train and let's take a look at him," Nill said. "We've had conversations. If he comes back, he wants it to be Dallas. He thinks he's a Dallas Star."

With all he has gone through this season with concussions, hip problems and his dad fight with leukemia the Dallas Chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association nominated him for the Bill Masterton Trophy. This trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

In a corresponding move Dallas has recalled Jason Dickinson from the Texas Stars. (Stars Inside Edge)

Barring a miracle the Stars season will end without a postseason run, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some fun story lines to follow in the remaining games. (WFAA 8)

35 years ago Coach Lindy Ruff squared off with a certain NBC Analyst:

Texas Stars:

After Friday night’s disappointing loss to the Stockton Heat (Calgary) blowing a 4-1 lead in route to a 5-4 loss, the Texas Stars exacted some revenge yesterday winning in OT 4-3 . Gemel Smith had the winning shot in the shootout. (100 Degree Hockey)

The boo birds were out in Minnesota as the Wild fell to the Vancouver Canucks 4-2. They did back into a playoff spot with the Kings also losing last night. (Star-Tribune)

Anti-Blackhawks fans had to like them getting shutout by the Florida Panthers 7-0. (Litter Box Cats)

A couple of milestones from yesterday’s action:

Caps Alex Ovechkin potted his 30 goal of the season for the 12th time.

Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky first to 40 wins this season.

What do you do when your team loses in the NCAA playoffs? You sign with the team that drafted you and score the game winning goal. That is what Brock Boesser did yesterday after his North Dakota team was eliminated. (ESPN)

In the Eastern Conference 4 teams are on pace for 110 points or more, What is their reward come playoff time, a likely matchup against one the other front runners in the divisional playoff seedings. (The Hockey News)

The Vezina Trophy race seems to be between Braden Holtby, Bobrovsky and Devan Dubnyk but the way Canadiens goalie Carey Price has played in the last month should put him in contention. (FanRag Sports)

As Stars fans know too well that injuries has derailed some teams playoff chances. The Lightning, Kings and Panthers all have struggled without key players. (AP Sports)

2 teams punched their tickets to the Frozen Four yesterday. Stars Prospect Riley Tufte’s Minnesota Duluth team and Harvard both won. the final 2 spots will be decided today. (Yahoo Sports)

The Islanders and John Tavares are locked in contract negotiations. Should they fall through look for the Isles to trade Tavares instead of losing him to free agency. (The Hockey News)

Finally it was 20 years ago the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes.

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