The Golden Knights will have competition trying to sign college hockey’s top prospect.
Defenseman Will Butcher, last season’s Hobey Baker Award winner, had discussions with five NHL teams on his first day of free agency Wednesday and has scheduled talks with more teams during the next couple days, according to the Associated Press.
The Knights are among the teams with an interest in Butcher.
Butcher’s agent Stephen Bartlett declined comment when reached by the Review-Journal on Wednesday.
Butcher, 22, became a free agent after turning down an opportunity to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2013 draft.