Move over Charlie The Butcher.
There may be a new Butcher in town soon.
I'm a big believer in the old adage "where there's smoke, there's fire".
Count me as one of the few observers who believes that Will Butcher, the 2017 Hobey Baker winner, will be signing with the Buffalo Sabres.
Proof?
On Friday night, Butcher was spotted in the Denver airport rocking a Buffalo Sabres equipment bag.
Wednesday August 16 was when Butcher became an unrestricted free agent.
To date, the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Knights and New Jersey Devils have contacted Butcher and his agent.
According to several reports, Butcher spoke over the phone with Buffalo GM Jason Botterill on Thursday morning. One assumes that Butcher scored a swag bag during his alleged visit to Buffalo on Friday.
Butcher’s agent mentioned earlier this week that a contract signing maybhappen in the next few days once the player has met with NHL teams. Butcher has said that playing in the American Hockey League this season is not a deal breaker.
The fleet-footed defenseman just completed his four-year obligation at the University of Denver . Butcher recently broke the news to the Colorado Avalanche that he will be testing the NHL free agency market. Colorado drafted Butcher in the fifth round in 2013. They own Butcher's exclusive negotiating rights until August 15.
Bartlett told me by email last month that he and Butcher are taking a methodical approach to. Bartlett and Butcher will listen with interest to all interested NHL teams. Including Jason Botterill should the Buffalo Sabres happen to express interest in Butcher.
Buffalo might be Butcher's final destination.
Why the Sabres?
New Buffalo Sabres head coach Phil Housley loves to play a five-man-attack-system that features his defenseman jumping into the rush with speed and supporting the puck, below the face off circles, in the offensive zone.
In his first thirteen weeks on the job, Botterill has done a great job of rebuilding his blue line.
Botterill made trades for veterans Marco Scandella and Nathan Beaulieu. He also added Russian free agent Viktor Antipin. Adding three quality defenders to an impressive core of Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Zach Bogosian and Josh Gorges will add immediate value to the Buffalo blue line.
Adding Butcher would all the more improve the overall skill level of Phil Housley's D corps.
Butcher plays both sides of the puck with great dexterity and attention to detail. He possesses a unique blend of skill, vision, speed, escapability and creativity.
Here are some logical reasons why signing with Buffalo makes a lot of sense for Butcher:
• 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.
"You make some good points there. We are in "wait-and-see" mode right now until the 15th. If the Sabres call then, we will certainly be happy to hear them out!"
The Avalanche selected Butcher in the fifth round (123rd overall) in 2013 but couldn't come to contract terms with the player.
At 5'10" and 190 lbs., Butcher reminds this observer of Anaheim D Sami Vatanen and Nashville puck mover Ryan Ellis.
A product of the U.S. National Development Program, Butcher played four seasons at the University of Denver.
In 158 career games with the Pioneers, Butcher scored 28 goals and 75 assists for 103 points.
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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