Will Butcher to make decision on Sunday

Prized college free-agent defenseman Will Butcher is close to announcing which NHL team he'll sign with, he told NHL.com via email.

"I will be making my decision on Sunday with my family and my agent there with me," said Butcher, who took home the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey last season.

Butcher's agent, Brian Bartlett, confirmed that the Buffalo Sabres and the Vegas Golden Knights are in the mix to sign him. Butcher will visit two more teams before returning to his home in Wisconsin on Saturday.

The New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins are also believed to be among the teams involved in the Butcher sweepstakes.

"He wants to play for a team that really understands and believes in him as a player and what he can bring to an organization, so it's weeding out the ones who just kind of want good players since every team needs good players," Bartlett said.

"The second part is which team has the opportunity and resources to give him the best chance to be a longtime professional player. We haven't been demanding he make the team right out of (training) camp or have a roster spot. It's about the process over the next couple of years."

The Colorado Avalanche made Butcher a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, but he chose not to sign with the organization. He became a free agent on Aug. 16.

Butcher had seven goals and 30 assists in 43 games last season at the University of Denver, captaining the team to the NCAA championship.

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