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NHL Expansion Draft Potential Strategies for the Central Division

By Trin Potratz

Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2016; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) makes a save during the third period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) shoots the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the 2016 Winter Classic ice hockey game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) shoots the puck against the St. Louis Blues during the 2016 Winter Classic ice hockey game at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

The Blackhawks will keep their core intact due to the group’s No Movement Clauses. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Nicklas Hjalmarsson and Corey Crawford will stay.

The Blackhawks will go with a 7-3-1 format to fill out the rest of their protected players. Up front once the NMC’s are out of the way, the Hawks will be able to protect three extra forwards. Luckily Artemi Panarin and Nick Schmaltz are exempt from the draft.

The Blackhawks will likely protect Richard Panik and Ryan Hartman and will have to decide who else to protect out of Marcus Kruger, Dennis Rasmussen, Andrew Desjardins and Tomas Jurco. Kruger’s contract could come off the books as relief so he gets exposed. I decided to keep Jurco as the last player due to the price they paid to acquire him.

The contract extension to Jordan Tootoo allows the Hawks to meet exposure requirements. On the blueline, the decisions were made by the NMC’s. The Hawks risk losing Trevor van Riemsdyk and Ville Pokka and Michal Roszival and TVR both meet exposure requirements.

Goaltender Corey Crawford will be protected and Jeff Glass will be the goalie who meets requirements to exposure. The Hawks also risk losing backup Scott Darling, even though he is not under contract past July 1.

Vegas may select Darling to be their starter, which will be the best case scenario for the Hawks in keeping one of their younger defensemen.

PROTECTED: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov, Tomas Jurco, Richard Panik, Ryan Hartman, Brent Seabrook, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Corey Crawford

NOTABLE EXPOSED: Marcus Kruger, Andrew Desjardins, Jordin Tootoo, Dennis Rasmussen, Johnny Oduya, Brian Campbell, Ville Pokka, Trevor Van Riemsdyk, Scott Darling

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