Senators emerge as valiant runners-up behind Blackhawks to sign star college player

The Elbow staff 

Butcher's teammates in Denver hope to get offers from the Blackhawks, too. Image source: Minda Haas Kuhlmann

OTTAWA, ON – Senators GM Pierre Dorion today announced that he is confident college star Will Butcher will give his team a passing thought before inevitably agreeing to the Blackhawks' offer this summer.

After meeting with the University of Denver forward today, Dorion told reporters that his team's impressive playoff run this year helped put the Sens in an enviable position.

"After talking to Will this afternoon, I'm very confident that he believes strongly enough in the direction of our team to think about us when he's signing his contract with Chicago," he said. "He's an impressive young man, and promised me that we would be a great team to join if it doesn't work out with the Blackhawks."

Dorion said it was a special moment for his franchise, as he's used to seeing teams like Toronto and Montreal just miss out on signing mature players out of college.

"Every NHL team is looking at these young college guys. To be thought of as the best fallback option behind the Hawks is a position that the 29 other general managers are envious of."

Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman denied reports that his team had made contact with the 22-year-old, but was confident he'd sign there anyway.

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