Scott Powers of The Athletic reports that the Chicago Blackhawks are expected to be one of the teams chasing Will Butcher this summer, the Colorado draft pick who will become a free agent in two weeks. Already Detroit and Pittsburgh have been linked to the young defenseman, who will have his choice of teams after winning the Hobey Baker and dominating the college circuit last season.
It’s still unclear if Butcher, 22, is ready to step into an NHL role. His offensive production was excellent in college and he’s dominated his competition for some time, but he’s still an undersized defenseman without a standout skill. That can translate into struggles in the league, though Butcher is going to choose his landing spot carefully to provide the best situation for success. He’s said in the past that an immediate role isn’t necessary and that the long-term outlook for a franchise may be more important, but you’d have to think a chance to play with a team just a couple of hours south of his hometown could weigh on his decision.
There will be stiff competition for his services, and a decision won’t have to be made right away. Butcher could wait a few weeks and still be under contract before camp starts. Remember last season, when Jimmy Vesey was in a similar situation that he didn’t sign until August 19th.