The deadline to protect players from being available for the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft was yesterday, and it shouldn't have shocked anyone to see who the Blackhawks' front office decided to shield from being swooped up by the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The Draft will occur between June 18-20, and the Golden Knights' selections will be revealed during the NHL Awards ceremony at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on June 21.
Read more about how the expansion draft will affect Chicago and the rest of the teams in the NHL below:
**Here is who the Blackhawks decided to place on their protection list (SCH)
**Marcus Kruger and Trevor van Riemsdyk were left unprotected (Chicago Tribune)
**Here is a comprehensive list of every available player for Las Vegas (Sun-Times)
**A closer look at who the Blackhawks might stand to lose in the Draft (CSN Chicago)
**Patrick Sharp has ‘zero chance’ of returning to the Blackhawks, per a report (SCH)
**The Hawks reportedly offered Dennis Rasmussen a contract, got turned down (Chief)
**Ex-Blackhawks assistant Mike Kitchen turned down a coaching job with Wild (SCH)
**The Blackhawks need to follow Pittsburgh’s retooling footsteps (Blackhawk Up)
**Here is what the Blues’ protection list looks like (St.