Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Butcher Trims The Fat

August 23, 2017, 5:02 PM ET [25 Comments]
GARTH'S CORNER
NHL news by Garth • RSSArchiveCONTACT
On Tuesday Buffalo Sabres GM Jason Botterill espoused his respect and admiration for college free agent defenseman Will Butcher.

Simultaneously, George McPhee was having his own sit down meeting with the University Of Denver Pioneers hero.

Butcher is the USDA prime cut that Botterill, McPhee and a few other NHL GMs want to sink their proverbial fork and knife into.

It's believed that Botterill met with Butcher in Buffalo last Friday. Thus, the photo of Butcher walking through the Denver airport with a Sabres equipment bag slung over his shoulder. Botterill admitted Tuesday that he has used several "sales pitches" to close Butcher.






According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, McPhee and the Vegas Golden Knights made their pitch to Butcher on Tuesday.


“I would expect it would be done within a week or so,” McPhee said Wednesday.


"We’ve already discussed what our team has to offer and our organization has to offer him. But now a player has to take a look at facilities and understand the city a little bit to make that final decision.”


Last Wednesday, Butcher, 22, became an unrestricted free agent after he skated away from an entry level contract offer from the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2013.


As a senior at the University of Denver, Butcher won the Hobey Baker as college hockey’s top player. He had 37 points in 43 games and captained the Pioneers to the NCAA national championship in April.


Butcher has narrowed his finalists to the Sabres, Knights and New Jersey Devils, according to multiple published reports.



Butcher’s agent, Brian Bartlett, confirmed Butcher's Tuesday visit with the Knights, but declined further comment in a text message.


”He’s an offensive player. He can run a power play, plays a finesse game, and that’s the direction that the game is going more and more,” McPhee said. “You need defensemen who can think the game well and make good decisions under pressure, and he’s demonstrated he can do that.”
Join the Discussion: » 25 Comments » Post New Comment
More from GARTH'S CORNER
» Hailing Taxis
» He With The Gold Makes The Rules
» Sedentary Seven
» The Sedentary Seven
» GadZuccs