Will Butcher To Hit Free Agency

[Brawndo]

Antipin is probably better now.

This is probably true, but 2006 proves you can never have enough defensemen

[Pokey Jones]

Perhaps his interest in Buffalo is not so much because it is a bad team that he thinks he could make but because of Housley's philosophy and what he did for the D in Nashville. So maybe he believes he has a better shot at developing under Phil's guidance. 

[LGR4GM]

I think he might sign here. Like I actually feel good about it.

[darksabre]

I think he might sign here. Like I actually feel good about it.

It really makes sense because:

 

-Housley

-Buffalo is starting to look like a place that wants to target US college players

-Defensive depth is shallow enough that opportunity is good

-We're also not totally lacking defensive depth either

[Doohicksie]

This is probably true, but 2006 proves you can never have enough defensemen

 

 

:o

[shrader]

Interesting. 3 bottom dwellers.

 

I can't say much about Gallant, but both Hynes in Jersey and Housley here have long histories with USA hockey.

[pi2000]

It really makes sense because:

 

-Housley

-Buffalo is starting to look like a place that wants to target US college players

-Defensive depth is shallow enough that opportunity is good

-We're also not totally lacking defensive depth either

 

Yeah, it would make perfect sense, which is why I'm not feeling very optimistic as he would've picked BUF already if the above were true.  

 

I still say NJD because it's definitely his best chance to play in the show this season... their depth chart on D is horrendous.    

[Brawndo]

From Dreger

 

Will Butcher is still visiting NHL teams. 3-4 still in the mix. Decision expected either this weekend or start of next week.

[Doohicksie]

Yeah, it would make perfect sense, which is why I'm not feeling very optimistic as he would've picked BUF already if the above were true.  

 

I still say NJD because it's definitely his best chance to play in the show this season... their depth chart on D is horrendous.    

 

His agent may insist he visits a certain amount of teams before he makes a decision.

[Brawndo]

Per Mike Chambers Butcher is making his decision by Sunday

Edited August 24, 2017 by BRAWNDO

[LGR4GM]

I find it interesting Butcher was ignored by Colorado and then Colorado managed to get a different college UFA this summer. If anyone had witnessed how they have run that team, why would choose to go there?

[WildCard]

I find it interesting Butcher was ignored by Colorado and then Colorado managed to get a different college UFA this summer. If anyone had witnessed how they have run that team, why would choose to go there?

He was ignored by them or he ignored them?

 

Either one really doesn't surprise me

[dudacek]

Butcher's agent makes it sound like he was essentially ignored by Colorado during his second and third years and made to feel he was not going to be offered a contract before they got interested again when he started lighting it up this year.

[pi2000]

Butcher's agent makes it sound like he was essentially ignored by Colorado during his second and third years and made to feel he was not going to be offered a contract before they got interested again when he started lighting it up this year.

 

Veseyian

[shrader]

I find it interesting Butcher was ignored by Colorado and then Colorado managed to get a different college UFA this summer. If anyone had witnessed how they have run that team, why would choose to go there?

 

It depends on the player, but if it's someone who has just hit the market and hadn't yet entertained offers in previous years, or course he is going to be responsive when a team comes calling.

[LGR4GM]

Butcher's agent makes it sound like he was essentially ignored by Colorado during his second and third years and made to feel he was not going to be offered a contract before they got interested again when he started lighting it up this year.

My understanding is that Roy didn't want him and so they ignored him for 2 years then when Roy got fired tried to repair the damage and failed.

[inkman]

I think he might sign here. Like I actually feel good about it.

Nope

[kas23]

Veseyian

But not as pampered as Vesey.

[pi2000]

But not as pampered as Vesey.

 

obviously :)

 

Vesey and his camp flat out lied about Poile and the Preds.  

 

I've not yet heard of any shenanigans between Sakic and Butcher other than the fact Butcher informed them he wasn't going to sign... unlike Vesey who dragged them along and then got into a "he said, she said" ordeal like a 9 year old.

Edited August 24, 2017 by pi2000

[Pokey Jones]

He's probably already made up his mind. They're just playing teams off of each other now to get the best deal. 

 

Antipin, Guhle, Butcher, none of these guys is a sure thing. Best we have them all in the system competing and if they all turn out well then great, we finally have a D and bodies to trade down the line. 

[Taro T]

He's probably already made up his mind. They're just playing teams off of each other now to get the best deal. 

 

Antipin, Guhle, Butcher, none of these guys is a sure thing. Best we have them all in the system competing and if they all turn out well then great, we finally have a D and bodies to trade down the line.

 

What do you mean by "the best deal?"

[ct fab]

925k is the highest he can be paid salary wise, but bonus structure can differ. My guess is it is buf or nj

[inkman]

925k is the highest he can be paid salary wise, but bonus structure can differ. My guess is it is buf or nj

It's not Buffalo

[Taro T]

925k is the highest he can be paid salary wise, but bonus structure can differ. My guess is it is buf or nj

At this point, they'd all offer him all the bonuses he's eligible for. The odds of him earning any is slim.

[Brawndo]

It's not Buffalo

I'll bite. Bartlett lives in Rochester, what have you heard?