Penguins will make pitch to Butcher this week

Will Butcher's list of suitors includes the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are among a handful of teams that will make presentations to the free-agent defenseman this week, general manager Jim Rutherford confirmed to Sam Werner of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.

"A player like that's going to have several teams in that same category (of pursuit), but (he's) a Hobey Baker (Award) winner and a good young player," Rutherford said. "We will be in that mix with other teams."

Butcher has reportedly already spoken with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Vegas Golden Knights.

He officially became a free agent Wednesday after opting not to sign with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him in 2013.

The 22-year-old won the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. collegiate hockey player after helping the University of Denver win the national championship this past spring.

Pittsburgh signed Hobey Baker finalist Zach Aston-Reese, the NCAA's top scorer this past season, to a two-year, entry-level deal in March.