Expansion Draft: 2 Chicago Blackhawks the Seattle Kraken Would Love to Pick

The Seattle Kraken have July 17 marked on their calendars.as the deadline looms for every team in the NHL to submit their protected list for the expansion draft. From there the fun begins and the Kraken will announce their roster on July 21. Selections won't come easy and that's certainly the case when reviewing the Chicago Blackhawks roster. 

For educational purposes:

• Teams must submit their protected lists to the league by July 17
• Each team must submit a protected list of seven forwards, three defensemen, and one goalie OR eight skaters and one goalie
• Any player with a no-movement clause must be protected unless the player waives it
• Each team must expose two forwards, one defenseman, and one goalie who are under contract and played at least 40 games this past season or 70 combined games over the last two seasons
• Any player with a career-ending injury is exempt from selection
• All first- and second-year players, as well as unsigned draft picks, are exempt from selection

Blackhawks Players to Watch:

Riley Stillman: When the Blackhawks acquired Stillman from the Florida Panthers, it didn't take long for the team to extend him for three seasons at $1.35 million. The 23-year-old defenseman has shown he's capable of logging some NHL minutes and contribute on a regular basis. Stillman still hasn't quite reached his potential but the ceiling is high and he's a prime target for Kraken general manager Ron Francis.

Malcolm Subban: The netminder knows all about expansion teams and could be a great fit as the backup in Seattle. The only issue is the Kraken are going to have a ton of talent to choose from in the crease. The likes of Jake Allen and Braden Holtby are likely being picked before Subban, so perhaps he's selected as a #3. He appeared in 16 games in Chicago last season and finished the year with a 3.20 GAA and a .900 SV%. 

Photo credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports