Will Butcher is in the driver's seat and he's in full control of his NHL future.
University of Denver team captain and 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner as national player of the year just win an NCAA national championship and he is in no hurry to sign with the lowly Colorado Avalanche any time soon.
Like Harvard's Jimmy Vesey last summer, Butcher will eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on August 15. Butcher just completed his fourth NCAA season. He is now free to find his dream job in the NHL.
The Denver Post is reporting that Butcher met with Colorado grand poobah Joe Sakic on Tuesday.
Butcher thanked Sakic for the meeting then said no thanks. Butcher left the meeting with no contract offer. Butcher was A-OK with it.
“I told him I didn’t want an offer yet,” Butcher said. “I wanted to sit with him, talk with him about my year, what they’re thinking, what their philosophy is going to be. My parents are coming in this weekend for the banquet, and I want to talk to my parents before they offer me anything.”
Sakic and his assistant general manager were eager to get Butcher's signature on a three year entry level contract last weekend at the Frozen Four.
Near the end of Butcher’s junior season a year ago, the Avalanche told Butcher’s “family adviser” the team was not interested in signing him at any point. But that attitude toward Butcher was believed to have emanated from then-coach Patrick Roy, who was also the Avs’ vice president. Roy resigned in August, and the Avs had scouts or team executives at numerous DU home games this season. Assistant Avs general manager Chris MacFarland was at the Frozen Four in Chicago last weekend.
“He (Sakic) came in and gave me his whole spiel about changes in the (Avs) program, going younger and everything like that. I told him I’d get back in touch with him,” Butcher said. “I’m weighing all my options right now. I want to take my time. I don’t have anything to rush into right now. I’m not going to play anywhere right now. So I might as well take my time.”
Butcher played two seasons with the U.S. National Development Program before playing four years at DU. At the USNDP, Butcher played with young stars Jack Eichel, Hudson Fasching, Alex Ruch, Dylan Larkin, Sonny Milano, Michael Mccarron, Tyler Motte, Anders Bjork, and others.
At 5'10" and 200lbs., Butcher can wheel and support the rush. He has a heavy shot and is a smart defender who makes direct first pass.
There will be no shortage of NHL teams lining up to take a serious run at Butcher.
**
Thanks, Sabres TV
On Wednesday afternoon, I will be listening intently when Buffalo Sabres GM Tim Murray gives his debrief of the 2016-17 failure of a season.
Murray will be ready to answer the tough questions. He always is. He monitors social media. He listens to pissed off Sabres fans as they lament the constant losing at the local gin mills.
On Monday, Murray gave his employees their exit interviews before they packed their twigs and skates in their luxury SUVs and sedans and headed to . I suspect in the case of many of his players that the acerbic Murray did all of the talking. The format for Murray's interrogations, er, meetings is rather simple. Yet very effective. Here's what you did well. Here's what you sucked at. Here's what you need to do to be a player on my team next season. In other words, here is the value you brought to your teammates this season.
The good. The bad. The ugly.
Dan Bylsma said Monday that he has spoken with Murray about his performance this season. Bylsma said he will "go forward" as Sabres head coach. I don't doubt that is the case, however, I want to hear Murray say it with my own ears. For all we know, Murray could have heard some damaging testimony and complaints about Bylsma's players during exit interviews to precipitate a head coaching change. Lindy Ruff, Ken Hitchcock, Gerard Gallant and Darryl Sutter are all unemployed veteran bench bosses looking for their next kick at Lord Stanley's Mug.
I envision Bylsma sleeping with one eye open these days. His teams have been terrible the past two seasons. The 2016-17 vintage Buffalo Sabres were better equipped for success than last season's team was yet finished three points behind in terms of points in the standings (78 to 81).
I also want Murray to be honestly and candidly address the future of Evander Kane in Buffalo.
The Vancouver, BC native has just one year left on his contract $5.25 million average annual value.
Murray opted to keep hold of Kane rather than trade the enigmatic left winger at the March 1 NHL trade deadline. NHL personnel and scouts that I speak with on a regular basis felt that Kane would be traded on or by the deadline. Deals were discussed with playoff contending clubs, however, nothing came to fruition.
Will Murray go all-in on Kane and carve out a seven year, $42 million Kyle Okposo style deal to stay in Buffalo? Or, will he be traded away this summer?
Murray has that answer close to his vest. Hopefully he shares in Wednesday. On Monday, Kane said that he is looking forward to next year? He didn't say "looking forward to next year with the Sabres".
“That is something I have thought very, very little about,” . “I have one more year on my deal. I’m looking forward to next year.”
Don't let Kane fool you. He thinks about everything related to Evander Kane. He has thought about his future in Buffalo. How can he not when his teammates, Dan Bylsma, Tim Murray and The Pegula Family have stood firmly beside the guy through every trial and tribulation in his time as a Sabre.
Kane's name has been trending in Buffalo, for good reasons and bad, since the trade with Winnipeg in 2015.
It was refreshing for me this season to watch and cover Kane when he was making headlines on the rink.
Once his busted rib cage finally healed properly, Kane erupted for 28 goals (25 at even strength). The 2016-17 Sabres scored 199 goals for. The exact number of goals scored for the 2015-16 club. Kane deserves a lot of credit for his offensive production. He's a 30 goal scorer who lived up to his reputation. Unlike last season and the season before, Kane earned his pay check.
“I got off to a tough start getting hurt, came back too early. I didn’t feel obviously 100 percent in the first five, six, seven games coming back,” Evander said. “I was able to kind of get out of that funk and start playing the way I know I can play.
“I’m just looking forward to hopefully doing that over an 82-game season for myself".
Kane's shot selection and his attention to accuracy details helped him to pump up his goal scoring.
Kane scored more goals because he landed more shots on enemy goalies. Kane landed a team high 260 shots on goal with only 81 missed shots. Last season when he scored just 20 goals, Kane landed 271 shots on goal with 91 missed shots.
Kane also was a more efficient hitter this season which helped him to avoid injuries and re-aggravations of previous ailments. Last season, Kane buried 171 hits in 65 games played. This season, he dished out only 109 hits in 70 games played.
Kane certainly did not hurt his resale value by scoring 28 goals in 70 games played.
Kane has scored 48 goals combined the past two seasons. Amazingly, 42 of Kane's goals have come at even strength.
In 496 career games, Kane has scored 157 goals and 143 points for 300 points.
The thorn on the rose of Kane is his combined -41 for his career.
He scores at even strength and is on the ice when his team is scored on at 5v5.
Tim Murray will continue to get calls from rival GMs on Kane's availability. That's the way it should be. Players are assets. Star players on expiring contracts are also assets. If I'm Tim Murray, I am an listening to every and all offer on Kane right now. It happens every year in the Stanley Cup playoffs when powerhouse teams get skunked in round one or round two due to lack of goal scoring or poor goaltending.
"I’ve always envisioned myself as a playoff player, but I haven’t had an opportunity to show it," Kane said.
Kane then offered these pearls of wisdom that are the epitome of immaturity:
“I don’t warm up, like off the ice,” Kane said with a grin. “Everybody has their own type of preparation, and from an early age I’ve kind of found what works for me and what doesn’t.
“I’m probably not the typical hockey player in terms of how I prepare, but it’s more mental. It goes back to on-ice performance because at the end of the day that’s what you’re judged on.”
Oh, okay. Evander has finally opened the door and let us in. He feels that he doesn't need to be physically prepared for games because of his God giving gifts. Evander only needs mental prep to conquer opponents. Must be nice to be ripped like a model and have zero percent body fat. It must also be so cool to know that one possesses a physical advantage over the majority of players in the NHL. Kinda like play a round of 18 at Augusta without hitting balls on the driving range and putt practicing.
Some guys have all the luck. Right?
Roll out of the rack, run to the rink and dominate games and practices.
So let me get this straight, E.
Its totally fine for Jack Eichel, Ryan O'Reilly, Samson Reinhart, Brian Gionta, Josh Gorges, Kyle Okposo, Zach Bogosian, Marcus Foligno, Robin Lehner, Rasmus Ristolainen, Jake McCabe, Matt Moulson, Cody Franson, Nic Deslauriers, Johan Larsson and other mere mortal players to show up to work at 4:00 pm, three hours before a game to stretch, lift weights, ride the bike, tape sticks, attend PP/PK meetings, get chiropractic and PT work done, and study assignments.
But, that's not your thing?
You don't need that kind of prep. You are a level above.
Unbelievable.
No one man is his own island.
Hanging with the boys promotes team unity. Bonding is an essential element to winning. Trust and togetherness are imperative to organizational success. Transparency is vital.
The Buffalo Sabres room is a close knit sanctuary. Not all guys hang together, but the majority do.
Kane must think that "O'Reilly Practices" are lame.
In my opinion, the future stars of the benefit more by learning to play the pro game from the respected veterans in the room. Jack Eichel, Samson Reinhart, Jake McCabe, Justin Bailey, Alex Nylander, Evan Rodrigues, Nick Baptiste, Hudson Fasching, Will Carrier and the kids can't be allowed to undervalue the time they spend hanging with O'Reilly, Gionta, Okposo, Gorges, Ristolainen and the leadership group.
I lost count of how many times I would stand in Robin Lehner's slpostgane scrum listening to him lament how some of his teammates don't put in the required pregame preparation before games. Other team leaders talked frustratedly about a lack of urgency.
Kane is not a kid like Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews. He's a soon to be 26 year old veteran who has 8 years NHL experience in his equipment bag. Kane has never played in an NHL playoff game.
Ask yourself why.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to play in the playoffs, to showcase myself as a player in the playoffs,” Kane said. “For me, that’s kind of the ultimate goal. I’ve always envisioned myself as a playoff player, but I haven’t had an opportunity to show it. That’s disappointing.”
What's disappointing is that Kane thinks the "ultimate goal" is showcasing himself. The ultimate goal should be qualifying for the playoffs and winning a Stanley a cup with one's teammates.
Murray should keep the cell phone numbers handy of his buddies Chuck Fletcher, Bob Murray, Jarmo Kekelainen, Jim Rutherford, and newly minted LA Kings GM Rob Blake. Murray already knows Joe Sakic's digits.
I would trade Kane in a Western New York minute for a top pair D. Tim Murray can easily ask for and receive a top pair left D in exchange for Kane.
I hope Murray is in a similar state of mind.
The LA Kings bounced Darryl Sutter and Dean Lombardi on Monday night. New GM Rob Blake promises massive changes in personnel and style of play. The Kings want to get back to playing an up tempo pace. Kane suits the Kings perfectly. Tim Murray can take back a top D in Jake Muzzin or Alec Martinez.
Kane for Brandon Montour or Shea Theodore?
Fine by me.
Kane for Matt Dumba or Jared Spurgeon?
Cool.
Kane for Olli Maatta?
Excellent idea.
Kane and Zemgus Girgensons for Matt Duchene and Tyson Barrie?
Now you're talkin!
Settle down. I realize the Sabres will lose goals scored as a result of trading Kane. When Dan Bylsma ditches his stifling, rigid defensive style, it will allow Eichel, Reinhart, Okposo, O'Reilly, Foligno, Ennis, Bailey, Nylander, Baptiste, Carrier, and others to maximize their true offensive gifts. More freedom to create will translate to goals for. When Murray adds 3 legit D this summer it will also fortify the Buffalo offense. Eichel and the forwards will work in unison with the D on each shift. Units of five will attack, create turnovers and more scoring chances. Bylsma won't have to rush three forwards and drop his two D when Murray adds fast, skilled defensemen who will accentuate Ristolainen, McCabe and Bogosian.
The #1 ranked Buffalo PP will continue to dominate next season.
Will they be #1? Not likely but top ten in the NHL will be just fine.
I'm talking about addition by subtraction.
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