Will Blackhawks be hit by Las Vegas expansion draft?

[UOK]

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Second City Hockey did a great write up about who could be impacted by the LV expansion draft, here's some copy-pasta:

So to break it all back down for you, here are the two protected lists that could play out for the Blackhawks. One uses the 7-3-1 format that would allow the team to protect the maximum of 11 players, while the other would let the team protect more than three defensemen.

The 7-3-1 projection

Protected: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov, Marcus Kruger, Ryan Hartman, Kyle Baun, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook, Corey Crawford

Exempt: Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson, Nick Schmaltz, Vincent Hinostroza, Tyler Motte, Gustav Forsling, Tanner Kero, Robin Norell, Luke Johnson, Carl Dahlstrom, Nolan Valleau, Michal Kempny, all unsigned prospects

Available: Trevor van Riemsdyk, Ville Pokke, Viktor Svedberg, David Rundblad, Dillon Fournier, Mac Carruth, Richard Panik, Mac Carruth

Note: Available players list does not meet playing time requirement, but we're assuming that between now and the expansion draft, there will be an additional forward who play 40-plus games in 2016-17 or 70-plus games in 2015-17. For example, Dennis Rasmussen played 44 games in 2016-17, so if he's re-signed and appears in 26 games next season, they would be good along with Panik and TVR. And hey, if they really needed to, Kruger could be left unprotected.

The nine-player projection

Protected: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Artem Anisimov, Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Brent Seabrook, Trevor van Riemsdyk/Ville Pokka, Corey Crawford

Exempt: Artemi Panarin, Erik Gustafsson, Vincent Hinostroza, Tyler Motte, Gustav Forsling, Tanner Kero, Robin Norell, Luke Johnson, Carl Dahlstrom, Nolan Valleau, Michal Kempny, all unsigned prospects

Available: Marcus Kruger, Ryan Hartman, Richard Panik, Trevor van Riemsdyk/Ville Pokke, Viktor Svedberg, David Rundblad, Dillon Fournier, Kyle Baun, Mac Carruth

[Otis Day]

Can't believe the NHL is expanding. It was doing fine the way it was. Bettman just wanting to get into LV before any other league.

[DaDitka]

If there is any sport in North America that has the talent pool to expand....it's Hockey.

Their aren't enough good pitchers on this earth for the MLB and there isn't nearly enough good QBs or CBs around for the NFL.

But every roster in the NHL is more talented today then it was just years ago and many teams top minor league clubs are better then the NHL team they put on the ice 5 - 10 years ago. The 'toughest' position to fill is goalie and most teams have a minimum of two quality goalies right now.

Factor on top of that the fact that we're looking at another ridiculously deep draft and the talent is clearly there for expansion.

Striking now with all the talent, being the first team into Vegas and while the NBA could be taking a step back with the haves and have-nots' (especially if Durant goes to GS)

I think it's a good call by the league. (and I don't say that often)

Oh....let us not forget the HALF A MILLION relocation fee. That's NFL type money.

[UOK]

The only thing that bothers me is that the team will be called the Las Vegas Black Knights; their colors will be black, gold, and grey, and their logo is a really generic looking piece of crap that looks like something out of a create-a-team.

Essentially they'll look exactly like a weird mix of the Penguins, Jets, and Kings. I have no doubt.