- ProHockeyTalk
Report: Hobey Baker winner Butcher won’t sign with Avs, will test free agency
It looks like the NCAA’s Hobey Baker Award winner won’t sign with the NHL team that has his rights … again. Last year, Jimmy Vesey rejected the Nashville Predators’ offers in a very public way, ultimately signing with the New York Rangers. Defenseman Will Butcher will test free agency on Aug. 15 instead of agreeing to an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche, as his agent confirmed to BSN Denver’s Adrian Dater. “We informed the Avalanche of that decision,” Butcher’s agent, Brian Bartlett, told BSN Denver. “We appreciate what Colorado has done, and we’re not ruling out the Avalanche as a potential destination. But we just feel there will be other opportunities that should be explored
- CSN Chicago
Blackhawks Talk Podcast: Saad Father II
Johnny Oduya is headed to the Eastern Conference. The 35-year-old defenseman signed a one-year, $1 million deal with the Ottawa Senators. The contract could be worth up to $1.25 million with incentives. Oduya, who the Blackhawks re-acquired prior to the trade deadline last season from the Dallas Stars, finished with two goals and seven assists in 52 games between the two teams. It comes to no one's surprise that the Blackhawks didn't re-sign the veteran defenseman. After being swept in the first round of the playoffs last season by the Nashville Predators, Stan Bowman has made it clear the Blackhawks are headed in a different direction, and their offseason has been plenty of busy so far. Headline
- ProHockeyTalk
Bruins avoid arbitration with Spooner
Heading into today’s arbitration hearing, Ryan Spooner was reportedly looking for a $3.85 million dollar deal. On the other side of this equation, the Bruins were only willing to offer $2 million. With that kind of gap, it seemed almost certain that this dispute would be settled by an arbitrator, but the two sides have reportedly met somewhere in the middle, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Friedman is reporting that the two sides have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a deal worth $2.825 million. Update: The Bruins confirmed the signing and financial details. Spooner finished last season with 11 goals and 39 points in 78 games. The 25-year-old scored two less goals and 10 less points in 2016-17
