Protection lists were due and submitted yesterday by all NHL teams so the Seattle Kraken can start populating their roster when the expansion draft takes place this Wednesday. For the Blackhawks, here are their official protection and exposure lists:
Protection List
Forwards:
* Henrik Borgstrom
* Alex DeBrincat
* Brandon Hagel
* David Kampf
* Patrick Kane
* Dylan Strome
* Jonathan Toews
Defensemen:
* Caleb Jones
* Connor Murphy
* Riley Stillman
Goalie:
* Kevin Lankinen
Exposure List
Forwards:
* Ryan Carpenter
* Brett Connolly
* Adam Gaudette
* Vincent Hinostroza
Defensemen:
* Calvin de Haan
* Nikita Zadorov
Goalies:
* Collin Delia
* Malcolm Subban
Although arguments can be made for a few changes to both lists, there's little surprise for who is being protected and who is being exposed to the Kraken. As far as the exposure list, there will be no major loss as to who Seattle selects from Chicago.
A point of consternation is protecting David Kampf over Adam Gaudette. One way to put it, Kampf is a known quantity who has proven his worth by way of prowess at taking draws and playing shutdown hockey. There's no one else on the team that can do what Kampf does.
Gaudette is still unproven. He may be nice to have but not need to have. While there's interest to see what he can become, compared to Kampf, Gaudette is more easily replaced internally whether by a roster player like Vincent Hinostroza or prospect like Evan Barratt.
Another debate is whether Nikita Zadorov should have been protected over one of Caleb Jones or Riley Stillman. If the Kraken take Zadorov, the Hawks will lose him for nothing. While many fans want him gone, Zadorov still has value to bring back something of value.
As for Jones, the Hawks wouldn't have dealt Duncan Keith to the Oilers if they hadn't coveted him enough to retain him beyond the trade. In a similar vein, Stillman wouldn't have gotten an immediate contract extension after being acquired from the Panthers in April.
Then there's the question of whether Dylan Strome should have been exposed. Like Zadorov, Strome is valuable enough on the market that losing him for nothing wouldn't be wise asset management. There's also the chance the Hawks believe in him still to be a top 6 center.
On the flipside, one thing to keep in mind is just because Zadorov and Strome are protected in the expansion draft doesn't mean they will be with the team come training camp. There could very well be trades later this summer that send both of them packing.
--
Nikita Zadorov
On that last note, Zadorov is seemingly being shopped. There were a few teams like the Jets and Bruins that inquired about him during the most recent trade deadline. Could Boston, for example, have more interest given D-man Kevan Miller abruptly retired a few days ago?
Defensive defenseman Ryan Graves was traded recently from the Avalanche to the Devils for forward Mikhail Maltsev and a 2021 2nd rounder. Maltsev was a 2016 4th rounder. Could the return that the Avs got be a ballpark for what the Hawks could get by trading Zadorov?
--
Jonathan Toews
Even though Blackhawks fans are excited for Jonathan Toews to return this season, it's difficult to pencil him in for a full 82-game slate and who knows if he can even play half a season. The Hawks need to ensure center depth is intact with healthy personnel.
With Kampf protected and assumed to be re-signed at some point this offseason, he's automatic at 4C. Kirby Dach should be poised to stake his claim again as a budding 1C or 2C. Strome has top 6 talent if he can get out of his rut and play to potential consistently.
Toews, Dach, Strome, and Kampf down the middle is a good start but no guarantee either for aforementioned reasons. Henrik Borgstrom is possible as a top 9 center if he can impress in camp. Same with rookie Lukas Reichel but he's likely to start his NHL career at wing.
Other options include Pius Suter and Philipp Kurashev. Suter would need to be re-signed first but does have experience playing pivot even though the flank may be his stronger suit. Kurashev is a natural center who also thinks and plays like one, too.
MacKenzie Entwistle is worthy of consideration as well but in the bottom 6. He and Mike Hardman are lead candidates to be starters on the Hawks 4th line possibly with Kampf as their center. If Kampf isn't retained, though, look for Entwistle to get a look at 4C.
The aforementioned centers are those on the team but could the Hawks be looking to add new ones to the roster? If a Seth Jones trade goes down, a center is likely going to Columbus as part of the deal. That would leave a hole in addition to the iffiness of Toews being 100%.
If the Hawks are to bring aboard another center via free agency or trade market, who could be on their radar? Could former Chicago 1st rounder Phillip Danault be a candidate? What about Travis Zajac, Nick Bonino, Mikael Granlund, or Alexander Wennberg?
Danault would be a long-term investment of at least 5 years around $5M-$6M AAV if the Hawks went that route. Each of the others could be had on a short-term deal at an affordable salary and possibly as an asset that could be flipped at the trade deadline for futures.
Regardless of who may be pursued, it would behoove the Hawks to secure the services of a pivot who can play top 9, contribute at least secondary scoring, and be dependable defensively. Strength in the faceoff circle would be a definite plus, too.
--
See you on the boards!
Chicago Blackhawks Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»