The Buffalo Sabres are one of the NHL that has reached out to UFA defenseman Will Butcher, the 2017 Hobey Baker winner.
Butcher's agent confirmed to me that the Sabres did reach out to check in on Butcher and his decision making process.
The Colorado Avalanche had until midnight on Tuesday to come to a contract agreement with the swift skating, high skill defenseman. Colorado selected Butcher in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Draft. Since Butcher played all four seasons with the University of Denver Pioneers, and hasn't signed an entry level contract with Colorado, he now has the right under the NHL's collective bargaining agreement to sign a contract with another NHL team.
Butcher's stock rose considerably after he led the University of Denver Pioneers to the NCAA Men's College Hockey Championship victory in April.
NHL teams were allowed to contract Butcher at 12:01 am this morning. I'm told that The Pittsburgh Penguins also contacted Butcher's agent to express their interest in Butcher. There likely are likely going to be other NHL suitors inquiring about Butcher.
It should come as no surprise that Buffalo and Pittsburgh are in on Butcher.
Both franchises have a fond appreciation for scouting, drafting and signing NCAA hockey players. The Pens have won the last two Stanley cup championships with several NCAA college players on their roster. On May 10, Buffalo hired former Pens AGM Jason Botterill.
Some Buffalo-Butcher connections include:
• Sabres head coach Phil Housley coached Butcher at the 2012 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo.
• Butcher played with Sabres center Zemgus Girgensons at the USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints.
• Butcher also played at the USNDP with Sabres Jack Eichel, Hudson Fasching and Sean Malone.
Scan the Pittsburgh Penguins 2016-17 roster. You will see a Botterill's NCAA fingerprints all over it. Phil Kessel, Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Brian Dumoulin, Conor Sheary, Carter Rowney, Josh Archibald, and Ian Cole.
Botterill serious has an NCAA bias. Botterill played for the legendary Red Berenson's Michigan Wolverines and won a 1996 NCAA college hockey championship himself.
While with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Botterill won three Stanley Cups in the past eight seasons by scouting, drafting, developing and acquiring USA born college hockey players.
As assistant general manager in Pittsburgh the past ten seasons, Botterill played a huge role in player procurement and their eventual development in AHL Wilkes Barre Scranton, where he was the GM.
Botterill has brought his Pittsburgh best practices to Buffalo where the Sabres have a bevy of U.S. college and USNDP players on their roster and in their system. Jack Eichel, Kyle Okposo, Jake McCabe, Evan Rodrigues, and C.J. Smith.
In June, Botterill selected with eighth overall pick at the 2017 NHL Draft Minnesota Golden Gopher offensive dynamo Casey Mittelstadt.
Butcher, 22, is a modern defenseman. Meaning, he's known more for his ability to transport the puck with his fast feet and quick hands than he is for jacking up guys with huge hits.
Butcher 103 points (28 goals, 75 assists) in 158 games at the University of Denver.
At 5'10" and 190 lbs., Butcher reminds me of Anaheim defenseman extraordinaire Sami Vatanen and Nashville premier puck mover Ryan Ellis.
In 2016-17, Butcher set career personal best for points (37) and games played (42). Butcher scored 7 goals and 37 assists last season.
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