With four no-movement clauses among their forwards, three on defense and one at goalie, Chicago has most of their protected slots spoken for. Then again, I doubt they’d leave any of the eight unprotected.
Forward Decisions
Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and Artem Anisimov can’t go unless they endorse it. Chicago no doubt wants them all to stay. Young star Artemi Panarin along with complimentary pieces Tyler Motte, John Hayden, Nick Schmaltz, Tanner Kero and Vinnie Hinostroza are all expansion exempt.
They currently have four other forwards under contract for 2017-18 – Marcus Kruger, Richard Panik, Ryan Hartman and Jordin Tootoo. Should the Blackhawks protect three and choose the 7/3/1 plan, they’ll need to sign another forward to meet the two-forward minimum exposure requirement. Signing one of their RFAs Dennis Rasmussen or Tomas Jurco, or UFA Andrew Desjardins would do the trick.
Panik’s dramatic scoring increase to 22 goals and 22 assists, right wing role on the Toews line, club-leading 147 hits, and new two-year $2.8M deal will bring him back.
Kruger’s under-heralded value as a defensive specialist that helps provide sheltered minutes to their scoring front lines, skillfully kills penalties, and exerts a significant positive impact on puck possession is the type of player every team needs. Up against the salary cap ceiling again, actually a projected $4.5M-plus over it, Chicago may leave him unprotected hoping to unload his $3.08M cap hit. Rumors of a Kruger/Trevor van Riemsdyk trade to Vegas thus fulfilling their expansion obligations point to one resolution.
At 22-years-old, Hartman totaled 19 goals, 12 assists and a plus-13, finishing second in Blackhawk hits with 121, while leading them with 70 penalty minutes in his first full NHL campaign. He meshed at left wing effectively with Hossa, looks a top-six future staple and, entering a contract year with a smallish $863,333 cap hit should return. Tootoo’s best days are behind him and should go unprotected.
Between Jurco and Rasmussen I bet they’ll extend and protect Rasmussen, but either one would do the roster trick.
So that’s three keepers – Panik, Hartman and Rassmussen. I’ll say finances dictate Kruger and Tootoo are left available.
Defense Decisions
Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson have the no-movement clauses on defense. Trevor van Riemsdyk and Michal Rozsival are both signed and candidates to be left unprotected. The obvious pick here for Vegas is TVR as the 38-year-old Rozsival’s limited 2016-17 role and late-season facial surgery don’t bode well for next year.
The Kruger/TVR rumors likely play to Vegas’ interest in the quality young, inexpensive defenseman and the Blackhawks’ best available player considering talent and finances. Vegas takes Kruger and van Riemsdyk along with their combined $3.9M in cap space otherwise Chicago trades TVR elsewhere, potentially leaving the Knights with a choice of Rozsival, Tootoo, Kruger and 32-year-old AHL Rockford Ice Hogs backup goalie Jeff Glass.
Goaltender Decisions
Corey Crawford has an NMC. They signed Glass to fit the unprotected goalie role perfectly.
Predicted protected players with cap numbers
Forwards
Artem Anisimov (NMC) – $4.55M through 2021
Ryan Hartman – $863,333 through 2018
Marian Hossa (NMC) – $5.275M through 2021
Patrick Kane (NMC) – $10.5M through 2023
Richard Panik – $2.8M through 2019
Dennis Rasmussen – restricted free agent
Jonathan Toews (NMC) – $10.5M through 2023
Defensemen
Niklas Hjalmarsson (NMC) – $4.1M through 2019
Duncan Keith (NMC) – $5,538,462 through 2023
Brent Seabrook (NMC) – $6.875M through 2024
Goalies
Corey Crawford (NMC) – $6M through 2020
Top two options on who they would most likely lose/if the Blackhawks were to make a trade with Vegas to select/not select a player, who would it be and why.
As currently set, the only worthwhile options are van Riemsdyk (preferred) or the semi-pricey Kruger. Vegas might get both, like it or not, if the plausible trade rumors are true.
Follow Kevin on Twitter @KWcrosscheck
