Sharp trade? As in Patrick Sharp? As in the guy who everyone in the hockey world thought of as a grinding supplementary scorer who, in favorable circumstances, might have the career of a guy like Shawn Bates?
Interesting addition.
Anyways, the difference for most of these trades is that there was some measure of external influence that precipitated the move: trade demands (St. Louis), NTCs that limited a GMs options (Kesler), impending free agency departures (JBo), salary issues (Kessel), etc.
I agree that few trades of "star" players return what is expected but that has everything to do with external factors, which are almost always inherent in trading away big stars. I mean, if there weren't competing factors, why on earth would you move a star player?
That's the big difference in a scenario that involves San Jose - they have zero reason to move Thornton unless the package coming back is all but guaranteed to make an impact on their Cup aspirations. They aren't poor. They aren't going to miss the playoffs. Thornton isn't demanding a move. He isn't on the last year of his deal. He's still highly productive.