The Chicago Blackhawks will reportedly one of many NHL teams to pursue defenseman Will Butcher when he becomes a free agent later this month, according to a report by The Athletic’s Scott Powers.
Butcher, who won the Hobey Baker award as college hockey’s best player last season, opted not to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him, before the Aug. 15 deadline. Butcher capped off a four-year career at Denver with a national title at the United Center in Chicago.
HAWKS
**Blackhawks expected to be among suitors for Butcher (The Athletic)
**Hawks should pursue Butcher (SCH)
**Tallon will always have a ‘special place for Chicago’ (The Athletic)
**Prospects Barrat, Krys cut from U.S.’ junior roster (SCH)
**Prospect Jokiharju suffers knee injury at World Junior Summer Showcase (SCH)
**Fixing NHL’s national broadcast schedule (SCH)
**Kane, Hinostroza playing in charity game to support Special Olympics (SCH)
CENTRAL DIVISION
**Duchene on trade rumors: “Whatever’s going to happen is gonna happen” (Denver Post)
**Can Jost win the Calder Trophy? (Mile High Hockey)
**Blues add AHL affiliate in San Antonio (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
**Granlund, Wild agree to 3-year, $17.5M deal (Hockey Wilderness)
**Souhan: Wild signings signal young stars have risen (Star Tribune)
**Iowa Wild unveil 5-year anniversary logo (Hockey Wilderness)
**Preds T25U25: Emil Pettersson at No. 16 (On The Forecheck)
**Preds T25U25: Justin Kirkland at No. 17 (On The Forecheck)
**Preds T25U25: Patrick Harper at No. 18 (On The Forecheck)
**Avs T25U25: Cam Morrison at No. 20 (Mile High Hockey)
NHL
**NHL’s T25U25: Follow the complete list (SBN)
**NHL’s T25U25: Columbus’ Seth Jones at No. 18 (SBN)
**NHL’s T25U25: Winnipeg’s Nikolaj Ehlers at No. 19 (SBN)
**NHL’s T25U25: St. Louis’ Colton Parayko at No. 20 (SBN)
**Sabers, Eichel deal could be for 8-year max, per report (Die By The Blade)
**Lightning’s Kucherov puts comments in past, eyes Cup run (Tampa Bay Times)
**Islanders, de Haan agree to 1-year deal (Lighthouse Hockey)
**Devils to retire Patrik Elias’ No. 26 on Feb. 24 (All About The Jersey)
**Extension for ‘real deal’ Horvat should start at $5M per year (The Providence)
**Hurricanes, Pesce agree to 6-year, $24M extension (Canes Country)
HOCKEY WORLD
**Hockey Canada names 22 players to Ivan Hlinka roster (Sportsnet)