Anybody have an opinion on will butcher. 5-11 190 plays both PK and PP, 7 and 30 this last year. Team captain, physical for his size and two way player that has Off upside. improved each year. from Madison. I did read he was the best player in the Frozen Four. Most feel he could compete for a NHL spot now. LD.

As far I as can tell. 5,6,7 (kempny will slot somewhere 4-6 IMO) are wide open on the hawks. Pokka, Forsling, Rutta, Roz(please no) Franson, Osterle. Could offer him a Opportunity I suppose.

JJ You have been stressing of late about how faceoffs are very important and I agree if you look at the cup winning teams the hawks have had they have had three soild centerman in each cup win towes bolland madden in 2010 towes bolland kruger 2013
towes verrmette kruger richards in 2015 so to me and this just my opinion getting a center that wins faceoffs over 50%, unlike kero who everybody is so high on which I m not, is more important than a top lw to play with AA and Kane. What I am getting at is a player like Bozack from Toronto to me would be perfect would fit under the LTRI of hossa contract and little left over to sign a depth d man and if the hawks would send hino tottoo and rosie to the ahl that would free up more cap space for maybe a top lw and the TDL say evander kane with his contract prorated if that is possible. Thanks keep up the good work

JJ You have been stressing of late about how faceoffs are very important and I agree if you look at the cup winning teams the hawks have had they have had three soild centerman in each cup win towes bolland madden in 2010 towes bolland kruger 2013
towes verrmette kruger richards in 2015 so to me and this just my opinion getting a center that wins faceoffs over 50%, unlike kero who everybody is so high on which I m not, is more important than a top lw to play with AA and Kane. What I am getting at is a player like Bozack from Toronto to me would be perfect would fit under the LTRI of hossa contract and little left over to sign a depth d man and if the hawks would send hino tottoo and rosie to the ahl that would free up more cap space for maybe a top lw and the TDL say evander kane with his contract prorated if that is possible. Thanks keep up the good work
- Scott1977

scott are you okay

Anybody have an opinion on will butcher. 5-11 190 plays both PK and PP, 7 and 30 this last year. Team captain, physical for his size and two way player that has Off upside. improved each year. from Madison. I did read he was the best player in the Frozen Four. Most feel he could compete for a NHL spot now. LD.

As far I as can tell. 5,6,7 (kempny will slot somewhere 4-6 IMO) are wide open on the hawks. Pokka, Forsling, Rutta, Roz(please no) Franson, Osterle. Could offer him a Opportunity I suppose.
- kmw4631

Doesn't hurt to give him a training camp invite. But if he is anywhere close to the "real deal" (whatever that is for him), you risk other teams offering camp invites and he decides to go camping elsewhere. Or another team offers an ELC outright.

There could also be recent college grads looking for similar opportunities to earn an NHL contract. Anyone have some college free agents on their radar and hope the Hawks give them a look?

Anybody have an opinion on will butcher. 5-11 190 plays both PK and PP, 7 and 30 this last year. Team captain, physical for his size and two way player that has Off upside. improved each year. from Madison. I did read he was the best player in the Frozen Four. Most feel he could compete for a NHL spot now. LD.

As far I as can tell. 5,6,7 (kempny will slot somewhere 4-6 IMO) are wide open on the hawks. Pokka, Forsling, Rutta, Roz(please no) Franson, Osterle. Could offer him a Opportunity I suppose.
- kmw4631

Butcher plays on the left, so he'd only be competing with Kempny, Forsling, and I guess Gustafsson for a spot.

JJ think the Hawks take a flier on Jagr? Seems like his game is taylor made for Toews...

Doesn't hurt to give him a training camp invite. But if he is anywhere close to the "real deal" (whatever that is for him), you risk other teams offering camp invites and he decides to go camping elsewhere. Or another team offers an ELC outright.

There could also be recent college grads looking for similar opportunities to earn an NHL contract. Anyone have some college free agents on their radar and hope the Hawks give them a look?
- AEL_Fox

Butcher isn't likely going to wait for training camp - Hobey Baker winners and finalists tend to get contracts thrown at them so there's no need to 'try-out' for a team.

Yes I m fine bingo! why do ask?

Butcher isn't going to wait for training camp most likely - Hobey Baker winners and finalists tend to get contracts thrown at them so there's no need to 'try-out' for a team.
- L_B_R

He has to wait till Aug 15th either way. I did read his skating is not great for his size. Forsling is not fast but changes directions well which is just as important. When it comes to D men Q either loves you (TVR, ROZ) or does not like you ( Trevor daley) So in that regard have a few more guys in camp might be smart. He may see something he likes in one and not the other.

He has to wait till Aug 15th either way. I did read his skating is not great for his size. Forsling is not fast but changes directions well which is just as important. When it comes to D men Q either loves you (TVR, ROZ) or does not like you ( Trevor daley) So in that regard have a few more guys in camp might be smart. He may see something he likes in one and not the other.
- kmw4631

Yep, but Aug 15 is almost a month out from training camps, and most of these guys tend to sign somewhere well before then and have the offers to do so. Hayes signed 8/16, Vesey signed 4 days after becoming a FA on 8/20.

Trade alert!

Anisimov + prospect + 2nd rd (maybe 1st) for duchene

With Hossa money and anisimov money sign duche for 6.5/7 still habe done money for dman if none of the kids take over

Anybody have an opinion on will butcher. 5-11 190 plays both PK and PP, 7 and 30 this last year. Team captain, physical for his size and two way player that has Off upside. improved each year. from Madison. I did read he was the best player in the Frozen Four. Most feel he could compete for a NHL spot now. LD.

As far I as can tell. 5,6,7 (kempny will slot somewhere 4-6 IMO) are wide open on the hawks. Pokka, Forsling, Rutta, Roz(please no) Franson, Osterle. Could offer him a Opportunity I suppose.
- kmw4631

Blackhawks prospect Blake Hillman was his D partner last year as well. Nice connection there but I'm sure he signs somewhere in hopes of stepping right into the lineup (which in reality would be with his current team, COL).

Trade alert!

Anisimov + prospect + 2nd rd (maybe 1st) for duchene

With Hossa money and anisimov money sign duche for 6.5/7 still habe done money for dman if none of the kids take over
- ge1002

????

Trade alert!

Anisimov + prospect + 2nd rd (maybe 1st) for duchene

With Hossa money and anisimov money sign duche for 6.5/7 still habe done money for dman if none of the kids take over
- ge1002

Crazy no way Sakic would go for something like that.

Blackhawks prospect Blake Hillman was his D partner last year as well. Nice connection there but I'm sure he signs somewhere in hopes of stepping right into the lineup (which in reality would be with his current team, COL).
- TyCamScore

He could step onto the Avs for sure, but that could ruin his long term career too.

Let's not kid ourselves, he'll sign with the Rangers. But he would be a nice add for the Hawks.

A lot of it is all corporate sales too so there's a pretty serious cow being milked right now. The whole thing is a Disney-esque production right now. Which is neat but I don't have a whole lot of desire to go to games at this point.

I think there are a lot of big egos in the room as well who don't want to 'give up' for lack of a better term. You'll see Q out and Bowman out before they start to move big pieces me thinks.
- fattybeef

Me thinks you're more right than wrong

Prospect + pick for John Moore.

Shore up that #5 spot for sure. #4 spot? Maybe a stretch.

2017 Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher will hit unrestricted free agency on August 15 after deciding not to sign an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, reports BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater. The news was confirmed to Dater by Butcher’s agent, Brian Bartlett.

Anybody have an opinion on will butcher. 5-11 190 plays both PK and PP, 7 and 30 this last year. Team captain, physical for his size and two way player that has Off upside. improved each year. from Madison. I did read he was the best player in the Frozen Four. Most feel he could compete for a NHL spot now. LD.

As far I as can tell. 5,6,7 (kempny will slot somewhere 4-6 IMO) are wide open on the hawks. Pokka, Forsling, Rutta, Roz(please no) Franson, Osterle.
- kmw4631

Will Butcher is never gonna be tall or a great defensive presence.
Don't get me wrong; he has some jam defensively.
He will play on PP and and as an up ice presence.

Not so sure he plays right away, unless he signs with club with little attcaking from the back...

Prospect + pick for John Moore.

Shore up that #5 spot for sure. #4 spot? Maybe a stretch.
- 93Joe

Devils defence is terrible. I can't see then giving up Moore without getting a D back.

He could step onto the Avs for sure, but that could ruin his long term career too.

Let's not kid ourselves, he'll sign with the Rangers. But he would be a nice add for the Hawks.
- DarthKane

Didn't the Avs pretty much tell Butcher last year they didn't want to sign him? I remember reading something about his agent being told that because Roy didn't like him and then they tried to make up with him but damage was probably done. So, it might not be so much about wanting to play right away but just that he doesn't care for the Avs org anymore.

I know nothing about him personally, but it's never a bad idea to stock up on d-men. There is an potential issue when it comes to how many players are signed already to play in the NHL/AHL, though. That was supposedly one of the reasons Bondra hasn't been signed (though his decent prospect camp performance could change that).

2017 Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher will hit unrestricted free agency on August 15 after deciding not to sign an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, reports BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater. The news was confirmed to Dater by Butcher’s agent, Brian Bartlett.
- walleyeb1

Would be a great add.

[quote=walleyeb1]Crazy no way Sakic would go

Would you? Ani is solid, 1st, and ADB?

2017 Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher will hit unrestricted free agency on August 15 after deciding not to sign an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, reports BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater. The news was confirmed to Dater by Butcher’s agent, Brian Bartlett.
- walleyeb1

Anybody with a hint on where/who he is leaning to play for? I see he is a Sun Prairie, Wisconsin boy so maybe the Wild, Hawks, Blues if he is nostalgic or ????

edit: Just to temper expectations, a previous Hobey Baker winner was one Drew LeBlanc.

Anybody with a hint on where/who he is leaning to play for? I see he is a Sun Prairie, Wisconsin boy so maybe the Wild, Hawks, Blues if he is nostalgic or ????
- Rota's Rooter

That's the angle I was looking at. The kid played in Madison, then USHL for a year and then USNDT until college. Wondering whether the southern WI guys like Schmaltz and Burish are an in with him as well? Schmaltz's dad and uncle ran a gym in Madison that Burish used to train in. Plus Hillman (hopefully he has good things to say to Butcher about the Hawks). He has to know the reputation that the Hawks org has with players too. That alone next to the way that the Avs allegedly treated him...