On Will Butcher …
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Source confirms that the Pittsburgh Penguins will be among the teams talking with free agent defenseman Will Butcher.
The Penguins do have eight defensemen on one-way contracts for next season, but Butcher’s agent said last month that they are looking at the bigger picture.
“That’s not what we’re looking to hear — that you can step right in,” Bartlett said. “Will’s a very grounded and bright kid.
“It’s not who can get him there the fastest. It’s really who’s got a plan for him to be an NHL player for a long time if he puts in the work.”
Joe Smith: The Tampa Bay Lightning are not among the early teams that are interested in Will Butcher. Butcher is open to signing with someone without a NHL guarantee.
Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago: Sources saying that as of yesterday afternoon the Chicago Blackhawks hadn’t reached out to Will Butcher’s camp. The Blackhawks were expected to be interested in Butcher according to multiple sources.
Rick Dhaliwal: As of yesterday afternoon that Canucks hadn’t called Will Butcher’s agent.
On Alex Kerfoot …
Scott Powers of The Athletic Chicago: Sources saying that as of yesterday afternoon the Chicago Blackhawks hadn’t reached out to Alex Kerfoot’s camp. There had been no indication that the Blackhawks would be interested in Kerfoot.
Rick Dhaliwal: Was told yesterday that Canucks had called Kerfoot’s agent and had a meeting scheduled for yesterday.
Rick Dhaliwal: The Canucks aren’t the only team interested in Kerfoot as several teams called his agent.
On Blaine Byron …
Ryan Kennedy: The leading teams for former Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick and now free agent Blaine Byron are the New Jersey Devils, Ottawa Senators, Buffalo Sabres and Vegas Golden Knights.
On Connor Clifton …
Craig Morgan: Coyotes GM John Chayka on Connor Clifton becoming a free agent: (not a quote) With the prospects that are already within the organization there wasn’t really a fit from the Coyotes side of things, and probably not from Clifton’s side of things either.