Patrick Sharp Injury Puts Chicago Blackhawks in Tough Spot

The Chicago Blackhawks ground out a 2-1 victory in Phoenix on Sunday night, but a major question mark appeared far before the outcome of the game was decided.

Patrick Sharp's knee-to-knee collision with Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla has made Sharp's left knee the focal point of the Blackhawks' immediate future.  Sharp was taken off the ice late in the opening period and did not return. 

If it was just a precaution, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.

If it's a significant injury, things will get a lot more tense.

The condition of Sharp's knee may well be the back breaker in a season of struggles.

Dave Bolland, who has no scheduled return date from a concussion, has been hard to replace in the Chicago lineup.  Replacing Sharp, who is having a career season, may prove to be impossible.

Ben Smith, who watched the game Sunday night before being sent back to Rockford, wasn't going to provide the scoring to make up for the loss of Bryan Bickell, whom Smith was set to replace.  Smith, or any Rockford forward, isn't going to provide Sharp's penchant for finding the back of the net, though.

Sharp was scheduled to have the knee looked at Monday.  Unlike Bolland, whose status is up in the air, we should have a pretty good idea of when to expect the 'Hawks' leading goal scorers return to the ice.

If Sharp is out as long as he was two seasons ago, when he went knee-to-knee with Steve Ott of the Stars, we may have seen the last of him this year.

Both Troy Brouwer and Viktor Stalberg spent time on the top line in Sharp's place.  Who steps up and fills in until he returns?

I say Brouwer.

He has played well with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane for extended periods, and is more than capable of converting the scoring opportunities those two guys create.  Brouwer has stepped up his game when Kane, Toews and Marian Hossa have missed time this season, and I think he can do it now if Sharp misses significant time.

Stalberg can continue to provide a burst on the fourth line.  The 'Hawks can then call up Smith (who might get into the game this time), Jeff Taffe, or another forward to pick up the slack on the bottom two lines.

Despite not having Bolland to center the second line, Marian Hossa, Michael Frolik and Bickell have to bear down and provide offense.  The power play spot Sharp occupies will need to be addressed, probably by Chris Campoli.

At times this year, the Blackhawks have had to play without the services of Toews, Kane, and Hossa.  Sharp was one of the reasons Chicago was able to weather those storms to a degree. 

Now, it is up to the rest of the guys on the top line to stay the course in Sharp's absence—however long that is.