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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Patrick Sharp Says Trade “Reignited My Passion to Play”

Posted on by Kathleen Tibbetts

In case you missed it, Patrick Sharp held his first press conference as a Dallas Star yesterday, an event loaded with all the gravity due a three-time Stanley Cup winner.

Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill kicked things off with a statement on Sharp that amounted to a declaration of intent for the season to come:

“When you win Stanley Cups, you do things right on the ice, you do things right off the ice and you do things right in the community. It’s hard to find those type of players,” Dallas general manager Jim Nill said Monday at Sharp’s introductory press conference at American Airlines Center. “We think that [Sharp] is going to be a great addition for us.

“We’ve got a young core here. I know they’re going to learn from him, and he’s going to be a great addition for us.”

Sharp himself talked about how the Stars’ young core and hunger for success have raised his own energy levels after a long playoff season:

“Anytime you play deep into a regular season or playoffs, you hear the term ‘Stanley Cup hangover’ or ‘short summer effect,’ but being traded, especially coming to a team like Dallas, with so many young players and enthusiasm, it kind of reignites the passion to play hockey,” the 33-year-old left wing said. “I’m excited to join this group. I know from playing against them in the Central Division, they’re very difficult to play against and they’re a team that is improving in a lot of different areas, so for me to come down here and be a part of that in any way, I’m very excited.”

The NHL website has more highlights in text form. [NHL]

And Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News has posted a comprehensive quote roundup covering both Nill’s and Sharp’s remarks. [SportsDayDFW]

*****

Heika stayed busy yesterday, also weighing in on what Patrick Sharp may bring to the team.

So did Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn.

So did Tyler Seguin, who also answered a question about a hat. [SportsDayDFW]

Jason Demers and Ales Hemsky attended the Sharp presser as well. You can read their comments here. [NHL]

And I believe I called this, so everyone has to tell me I’m great and owe me stuff forever. (I didn’t make the rules.)

Why yes, it is going to be another Week in Patrick Sharp.

We may still be trying to argue him into the Hockey Hall of Fame, but Sergei Zubov has a new challenge of his own: Our Beloved Revolutionary Dallas Stars Blueliner has been named assistant coach of the Russian national team. [IIHF]

Elsewhere, future Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis said his recent retirement was “the easiest tough decision to make.” [NHL]

People are still talking about the three young Korean players who made development camp with the Stars this month. Forward Jinhui Ahn, defender Wonjun Kim and goalie Kye Hoon Park talked with Steve Hunt of NHL.com about their Dallas experience. [NHL]

Oh, my word. Look at what The French Pastry School of Chicago has done. Find out more about what The Hockey News calls “the Holy Grail of hockey treats.” [The Hockey News]

Detroit Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk could be out longer than anticipated after surgery to repair ruptured tendons in his right ankle. He’s looking at a November return. [MLive]

Meanwhile, the Nashville Predators and forward Craig Smith have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a new five-year, $21.25 million deal. [ESPN]

It’s official: Media and telecommunications company Québecor has submitted its bid to bring back the Nordiques.

Also official: There will be no NHL expansion bid from Toronto this time around.

Bill Ranford, who won two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy as goalie with the Edmonton Oilers and two more Lord Stanleys as goalie coach with the Los Angeles Kings, heads the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame’s class of 2015. (Stars connection: Bill’s nephew, Brendan Ranford, is currently tearing stuff up as a Texas Stars forward.) [Winnipeg Free Press]

Finally: Puck Daddy has found a wax figure of Teemu Selanne that may be the most unsettling thing you’ll see today. (I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR NIGHTMARES.)

The good part was when Teemu tweeted that his daughter Veera probably could have made a better sculpture. (Veera is seven years old. That’s the joke.)

Talking Points