Chicago Blackhawks: Three Players Who Could Be On The Move During Expansion Draft
Which three players are the Chicago Blackhawks most likely to lose in the Expansion Draft this Summer?
Las Vegas is getting an NHL franchise. What does that mean for all other NHL franchises? There will be an Expansion Draft held this summer where each team must make players available for Las Vegas to draft. Las Vegas will select one player from each current NHL team, including the Chicago Blackhawks.
Each team will have two options when it comes to deciding who they want to protect. First, any player that has a No Movement Clause will be automatically protected from the draft. All first and second-year players will be exempt from the draft and will not count towards their club’s protected list.
Teams can either keep 7 forwards 3 defensemen and 1 goaltender, OR they can keep 1 goaltender and 8 skaters total.
Player Exposure Requirements:
All clubs must meet the following requirements for players available to Las Vegas.
One defenseman who is under contract in the 2017-18 season and played in 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games the prior two seasons.
Two forwards who are under contract in the 2017-2018 season and played 40 or more NHL games the prior season OR played in 70 or more NHL games the prior two seasons.
One goaltender who is under contract for the 2017-18 season or will be a restricted free agent at the expiration of his contract immediately after the 2017-18 season.
So how does this affect the Chicago Blackhawks? Well, the Blackhawks currently have eight total players that have a No Movement Clause:
- Patrick Kane
- Jonathan Toews
- Duncan Keith
- Brent Seabrook
- Corey Crawford
- Niklas Hjalmarsson
- Marian Hossa
The core of the Blackhawks isn’t going anywhere which is good news for Hawk fans. What that also means for the Blackhawks is reigning Rookie of the Year winner Artemi Panarin is also exempt from the list. With Panarin only being a second-year pro, he doesn’t meet the requirements.
So with the Blackhawks having a large number of players saved from either NMC’s or being exempt, there are some options they have.
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Current Possibilities
These are the possibilities I see happening depending on which route the Blackhawks decide to take with the draft and rules.
If the Blackhawks go the 9 player route
Protected players: Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Hossa, Keith, Crawford, Hjalmarsson, Anisimov, Pokka
Unprotected players: Kruger, Hartman, Panik, vanRiemsdyk, Rasmussen, Svedberg, Carrick, Fournier, Carruth.
Requirements would be filled by: vanRiemsdyk, Kruger, Hartman and Carruth.
If the Blackhawks go the 7-3-1 route
Protected Players: Kane, Toews, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford, Hjalmarsson, Anisimov, Panik, Kruger, Hartman
Unprotected players: Pokka, vanRiemsdyk, Carrick, Svedberg, Rasmussen, Desjardins, Fournier, Carruth.
Requirments would be filled by: vanRiemsdyk, Carruth, Rasmussen, Desjardins
Don’t forget that Scott Darling will be made available for Vegas should they decide they want a goaltender.
So who could potentially be packing their bags for Las Vegas? I picked three players who I see being available for Vegas in either scenario. Obviously we have no idea which way the Blackhawks will go. Here are my top three players that Vegas could target when it comes to the Draft in June.
Marcus Kruger
Kruger is a player that the Blackhawks won’t want to lose but may have no other option. Kruger’s cap hit is what makes this decision a little easier for management.
Kruger is interesting because of his $3.08 million contract. Being a fourth-line center, some would say this contract is crazy. But Kruger isn’t your typical fourth-liner — he played key roles in two Stanley Cup runs and is the Hawks’ top penalty killer. Some would argue that he is the Blackhawks’ best defensive forward. Kruger is a player every team would love to have. However, with the requirements of the expansion draft and his cap hit, Kruger is an early favorite to be picked up by Las Vegas.
Trevor vanRiemsdyk
VanRiemsdyk is a young talent on defense that the Blackhawks would hate to lose, but given the options they have this is the most obvious choice.
He played in 35 games this season and has 9 points. VanRiemsdyk hasn’t scratched the surface yet on his potential, but with the likes of Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson. The Blackhawks have no choice but to make him available. His contract is a much cheaper option for Vegas than Kruger’s, but should Vegas decide they want a young defenseman they can mold into a potential All-Star, vanRiemsdyk is the route to go.
Scott Darling
Perhaps the most likely player to be picked by Las Vegas is Darling. Darling is a top backup goaltender and perhaps a starter on most other teams.
Darling showed the world just how good he was during the 2015 playoffs when Crawford was benched due to poor play. Darling tore it up and led the Blackhawks back to beat Nashville. Though Crawford got the starting job back, I’m a firm believer that the Blackhawks do not win that Stanley Cup without Darling and his stellar play.
Las Vegas would be getting a stud at goaltender for many years to come.
Next: Is it time to panic for the Blackhawks?
Chicago will have a tough decision to make this summer, but one thing is for sure the core of the Blackhawks isn’t going anywhere and that is something to be excited about. The Expansion Draft will take place on June 18-20 with the selections being announced on June 21st.