Penguins sign defenseman Will Butcher

Seth Rorabaugh
Monday, July 3, 2023 8:26 p.m. | Monday, July 3, 2023 8:26 p.m.

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AP

Defenseman Will Butcher last played in the NHL with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2021-22 season.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed unrestricted free agent defenseman Will Butcher to a one-year, two-way contract that carries a salary cap hit of $775,000.

A veteran of five NHL seasons, the 28-year-old spent the entire 2022-23 campaign with the Texas Stars, American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Dallas Stars. In 56 games, Butcher (5-foot-10, 190 pounds) posted 43 points (six goals, 37 assists).

Selected in the fifth round (No. 123 overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2013 NHL Draft, Butcher never signed with that organization and became a hotly-pursued collegiate free agent in 2017, including by the Penguins. After winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award as the top NCAA player in 2017 with the University of Denver, the left-handed Butcher entered the NHL by signing with the New Jersey Devils.

Ultimately, Butcher spent four seasons with the Devils before joining the Buffalo Sabres in 2021-22, his most recent season at the NHL level.

In 275 career NHL games, Butcher has 114 points (16 goals, 98 assists) while averaging 17:39 of ice time.

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