From there, he continued his hockey career in the college ranks with the University of Vermont, before the Philadelphia Flyers selected him in the third round, 95th overall, of the 2001 NHL entry draft.

Due to the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Sharp spent the entire following season in the AHL with the Phantoms, registering 23 goals and 29 assists (52 points) in 75 regular-season games and eight goals and 13 assists (21 points) in 21 playoff games en route to a Calder Cup championship.

Midway through the 2005–06 season, on December 5, 2005, Sharp was traded by the Flyers (along with Éric Meloche) to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Matt Ellison and a third-round pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft.

At the start of the 2008–09 season, on October 8, 2008, Sharp was named an alternate captain for the Blackhawks, along with Duncan Keith.

[4] Despite being limited by injuries, Sharp helped the Blackhawks form a highly offensive and young core led by second-year forwards Patrick Kane, captain Jonathan Toews and newly acquired veteran defenceman Brian Campbell.

Team physician Dr. Michael Terry anticipated that Sharp would have a full recovery in about three-to-four weeks.

He spent time with his then nine-month-old daughter, and was involved in Gillette's "My City is My Gym" fitness program as a spokesperson.

[12] On December 27, 2013, his 32nd birthday, in a 7–2 win against the Colorado Avalanche, Sharp scored his third career NHL hat-trick.

[16] On July 10, 2015, due to salary cap issues, Sharp and Blackhawks defensive prospect Stephen Johns were traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenceman Trevor Daley and forward Ryan Garbutt.

[18] Sharp accepted a pay cut, earning a $800,000 base salary with $200,000 in potential bonuses, to return to Chicago.

[16] Sharp announced his intention to retire after his final game, commenting, "I think I've known what I wanted to do for a long period of time here, and it's never easy...

[20] Sharp joined NBC Sports as a guest analyst for its coverage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs just 10 days after his retirement.

Sharp joined the University of Vermont men's ice hockey coaching staff in the fall of 2021.

[25][26] In June 2023, Sharp left the NBC Sports Chicago and the University of Vermont coaching staff to join the Philadelphia Flyers' front office as a special adviser to hockey operations.

[32] Sharp was married in July 2010[33] to his longtime girlfriend Abby, whom he met while attending college in Vermont.