The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with forward and alternate captain Patrick Sharp on a five-year contract extension.

"Patrick is a very important member of our organization and we are looking forward to him being part of a core group that will be a contender for many years to come," Blackhawks Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman said. “Over the last several years we have seen him develop into one of the game’s elite players as well as a fixture in the community and we are proud to be able to announce this news today."

Sharp, 29, paced the Blackhawks and shared eighth in the National Hockey League with 34 goals, and ranked third on the club with a career-high 71 points (34G, 37A) in 74 regular-season contests during the 2010-11 campaign. He also finished second on the team with three goals and added two assists in seven games during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 NHL All-Star Game.

Since being acquired by Chicago in a trade with the Philadelphia Flyers on Dec. 5, 2005, Sharp has registered 301 points (150G, 151A) in 427 regular-season tilts over parts of six seasons with the Blackhawks. The Thunder Bay, Ontario, native ranks 23rd in franchise history with 150 goals, 13th with 39 power-play markers, shares seventh with 13 shorthanded tallies and is tied for 12th with 24 game-winning goals.

Sharp shared third in the NHL with 11 goals, ranked fifth with 22 points (11G, 11A) and tied for second among league forwards with a +10 plus/minus rating in 22 postseason games during the Blackhawks run to the 2010 Stanley Cup championship. During three appearances in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with Chicago, Sharp has notched 21 goals, including nine power-play markers, and 17 assists in 46 postseason tilts.

Originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round (95th overall) of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft out of the University of Vermont, Sharp has recorded 316 points (160G, 156A), 339 penalty minutes and a +39 rating in 493 career regular-season tilts over parts of eight seasons with the Flyers (2002-05) and Blackhawks (2005-11). He has also added 22 goals, 17 assists and 26 penalty minutes in 58 career postseason contests with the two clubs.

Internationally, the Winnipeg-born forward posted three goals in nine games at the 2008 IIHF World Championships with Team Canada, and participated in the 2009 Canadian Men’s Olympic Team orientation camp.