On Will Butcher …
Craig Custance: As of Thursday … the Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and San Jose Sharks hadn’t called Will Butcher’s camp. The Columbus Blue Jackets have made a pitch.
Dave Isaac: Not a surprise that the Philadelphia Flyers haven’t shown any interest in Butcher.
L.A. Lariviere: Confirmed on Friday night that Montreal Canadiens haven’t reached out to Butcher’s camp.
Luke Fox of Sportsnet: Teams that are interested in Butcher include the Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins, New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.
On the Carolina Hurricanes …
Chip Alexander of the Raleigh News & Observer: The Hurricanes added Scott Darling, Justin Williams, Marcus Kruger and Trevor van Riemsdyk this offseason. GM Ron Francis when asked if there are any more moves to be made.
“If the season started tomorrow this is our lineup,” Francis said. “Again, we’re comfortable with what we have and starting the season the way we are.”
But …
“If something came along that made more sense for us to look at and make a move on, we’re open to doing that, too, if we feel it makes us better.”
Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos said that while they may not have a top-line center, they do have “four No. 2 centers.” GM Francis on a No. 1 center.
“If you look around the league and you say ‘This guy is a legitimate No. 1, top-line center,’ there’s probably 16 of those guys in the entire league,” Francis said. “They are not easy to find, and a lot of time you have to draft those guys and develop them. We’re hoping we have that kind of guy in our system already, but I certainly feel the guys we have in the middle are elite center men.”
Francis said there haven’t been any contract extension talks with Noah Hanifin’s agent. He has talked to his agent and told him they are open to extension talks.