The New Jersey Devils are getting defensive.

Set to begin his third season as general manager, Ray Shero made a late-summer splash by winning the Will Butcher sweepstakes, signing the standout college defenseman to an entry-level contract.

Who's Will Butcher?

As a refresher, Butcher was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, and spent the past four years patrolling the blue line at the University of Denver.

Most recently, Butcher - who averaged 0.65 points per game in the NCAA - captained the Pioneers to a national championship, and was named the top player in college hockey as the 2017 Hobey Baker Award winner.

He ultimately decided not to sign with the Avalanche, and was free to sign his ELC with any of the league's other 30 teams, inking a deal with the Devils after being tempted by several others.

Related: Will Butcher signs 2-year deal with Devils

"We are extremely excited to have Will and his family join our organization," Shero said Sunday, per the team's Twitter account. "This continues to represent what we want to do: bring in talented individuals, invest in their talent, and develop them as we progress."

Where does he fit?

In New Jersey, Butcher joins an impressive crop of prospects accumulated under Shero's watch, most notably Nico Hischier, Michael McLeod, Pavel Zacha, Nathan Bastian, and Blake Speers.

You may notice those five players are all forwards, with Shero having added defensive prospects in later rounds or as undrafted free agents. That group - led by Igor Rykov and Vojtech Mozik - is likely a year or two away from contributing at the NHL level, and that's perhaps being optimistic.

This lack of youth on the blue line was exacerbated by the entirely understandable decision to trade Adam Larsson for Taylor Hall, leaving Damon Severson (who remains an unsigned restricted free agent), Steve Santini, and the recently-acquired duo of Mirco Mueller and Yaroslav Dyblenko as the under-25 defensive building blocks who could be on the opening night roster.

No need to apologize for asking "who?" when reading those names.

Butcher, then, is a great addition for the Devils. The 22-year-old will be given every opportunity to translate his NCAA success into a steady career as a professional, with plenty of young weapons up front to feed the puck to.

He's set to earn heavy ice time in New Jersey, with plenty of power-play opportunities mixed in as head coach John Hynes looks to boost an unimpressive offense from the back end.

Expectations will remain low for the Devils in 2017-18, and Butcher can fly somewhat under-the-radar after being in the spotlight during the last vestiges of free agency.

Pursuing Butcher was the right play for the Devils, and signing with New Jersey ensures the defenseman will be a factor on the blue line right away.

Talk about a win-win.

(Images courtesy: Getty)

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It's no secret that the NHL has become a young man's game, built on fast feet and even quicker minds.

And while some players make an immediate impact, others take a little more time to develop. Here are five youngsters set for the next step after making it through the feeling-out phase:

Sam Bennett, Calgary Flames

In a way, it's nearly make-or-break time for Bennett, the Calgary Flames forward who's spent two seasons in the NHL but hasn't yet lived up to his billing as the fourth overall draft pick in 2014.

Bennett appeared in all but one game with the Flames last season, but finished with just 26 points - a double-digit slide from a year earlier, when he also skated in four fewer contests.

The good news is that Bennett was one of Calgary's brightest lights during the team's quick postseason exit against the Anaheim Ducks. In four playoff games, Bennett notched two goals, which ranked second on the team behind Sean Monahan.

Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets

After starting the season with the big club, Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor got more time to work on his game with the AHL's Manitoba Moose.

Connor didn't disappoint in the minors, recording 25 goals and 19 assists in 52 games. That offensive outburst laid the foundation for the upcoming season, as the 20-year-old is again expected to begin the campaign in Winnipeg.

With the Jets, Connor has the potential to take his scoring impact to the next level, as he should share a line with center Bryan Little and winger Blake Wheeler, who combined for 121 points last season. Drafted 17th overall in 2015, Connor's selection looks like another savvy move by the Jets.

Brendan Perlini, Arizona Coyotes

A first-round pick in 2014, Perlini made his pro debut last season and began the year with the AHL's Tucson Roadrunners, where he netted 14 goals in 17 games.

After scoring at just below a goal-per-game pace in the minors, Perlini was called up by the Arizona Coyotes, where he kept up the hot stick by pocketing 14 goals in 57 contests.

Now that he's gotten a taste of the NHL, Perlini will begin the 2017-18 campaign with the Coyotes where he should figure into the club's top-six forwards, likely alongside fellow freshman Christian Dvorak.

Jesse Puljujarvi, Edmonton Oilers

The 2016-17 season was undoubtedly frustrating for Puljujarvi, as he kicked things off with the Edmonton Oilers but struggled while notching just one goal and seven assists in 28 games.

In early January, the Oilers decided more seasoning was in order, sending Puljujarvi to the Bakersfield Condors of the AHL - a demotion that came just weeks after he could have been loaned to Team Finland to suit up at the world juniors.

But after a disastrous early run in Edmonton, Puljujarvi found his game in Bakersfield, tallying 12 goals and 16 assists in 39 games. The expectation is he'll be able to translate that production to the NHL ranks this season.

Josh Ho-Sang, New York Islanders

A late first-round pick in 2014, Ho-Sang is set to take off for the New York Islanders after the franchise put in plenty of patience.

In his first pro season, the Islanders winger spent much of the year in the minors, skating in 50 games with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he produced 36 points before getting called up to the big club.

Islanders fans then got a preview of Ho-Sang's scoring abilities during a 21-game run at the end of last season, a stretch in which he produced almost a half-point per game with four goals and six assists. Ho-Sang could certainly build on those numbers to become a Calder Trophy candidate this season.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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A Toronto Maple Leafs scout has been arrested and charged following an alcohol-induced joyride involving a golf cart, according to the Genesee County Sheriff's Office.

Lindsay Hofford, the Maple Leafs' director of eastern area scouting, was charged Saturday following a chain of events at Darien Lake, the upstate New York theme park, in which an intoxicated Hofford stole a golf cart and later hit another vehicle, and then left the scene of the incident.

According to Stephen T. Watson of The Buffalo News, Hofford, 53, is charged with driving while intoxicated, unauthorized use of a vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, conducting an unsafe lane change, and for his refusal to perform a breathalyzer test.

Hofford is scheduled to appear in Darien Town Court on Sept. 21.

Hofford joined the Maple Leafs in 2015-16 as an amateur scout after serving as the director of amateur scouting for five seasons with the OHL's London Knights.

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The New Jersey Devils have signed University of Denver free-agent defenseman Will Butcher to a two-year, entry-level deal, the team announced Sunday.

A fifth-round pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, Butcher spent the past four seasons with the University of Denver, wrapping up the 2016-17 campaign with 37 points in 43 games.

The season ended on a high note for Butcher, as he captained Denver to its first national championship since 2005. He also won the Hobey Baker Award, presented to the NCAA's top player.

Butcher's signing comes three days after former Devils draft pick Alexander Kerfoot signed a deal with the Avalanche after he failed to come to terms with New Jersey.

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The Los Angeles Kings are looking overseas to shore up their blue line.

KHL defenseman Chris Lee will attend Kings training camp on a professional tryout offer, according to John Hoven of Mayors Manor.

The 37-year-old Canadian - who's never appeared in the NHL - spent the past four seasons playing for Metallurg Magnitogorsk, averaging 0.79 points per game and winning a pair of KHL championships.

Last season, he was good for 14 goals and 51 assists in 60 games, adding a goal and 20 assists in 18 postseason appearances.

Lee also won silver with Canada at the 2017 World Championship, and will be in the running for a spot on the 2018 Olympic roster should he not land a deal in the NHL.

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The highest-scoring American-born NHLer appears to be a fan of the league's newest franchise.

Mike Modano, who tops the list of U.S.-born players with 1,374 points in nearly 1,500 career games, was spotted in Vegas Golden Knights' threads Sunday.

The latest entry into the American sunbelt, the Golden Knights will begin play this season, and appear to have at least one big-name supporter in Modano.

No doubt the former Dallas Stars center knows a thing or two about growing hockey in the south. After spending the first five years of his career with the original Minnesota North Stars, Modano stuck with the franchise when it uprooted to Dallas in 1993.

Upon arriving in Texas, Modano's greatest achievement with the Stars came in 1999, when he netted a team-leading 23 points to lead the team to its first Stanley Cup. He announced his retirement in 2011.

If only he could lace them up for the Golden Knights.

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The puck appears to be in David Pastrnak's corner.

The Boston Bruins have reportedly offered the restricted free agent a long-term contract worth $6 million per season, according to Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe.

Dupont adds:

(The Bruins) are leaving it up to him to elect the length - six or seven years. Pastrnak has yet to bite on what would be a guarantee of $36 million or $42 million, his average wage only $125,000 per annum short of Brad Marchand’s deal (eight years, $49 million).

Pastrnak recorded 34 goals and 36 assists in 75 games last season, seven points fewer than Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl - who recently signed an eight-year, $68-million deal - in seven fewer games.

Boston's training camp is set to begin in approximately three weeks, and general manager Don Sweeney has stated emphatically that the winger will not be traded.

According to the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, if Pastrnak does not sign prior to 5 pm ET on Dec. 1, he can't play this season.

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Make sure you pay close attention this season because it might be the last time we ever see some of the league's greats suit up.

As is always the case, Father Time finally catches up to some players while younger players look to take their spots. In the end, older players have to come to terms that their time in the league is over, and this year is no exception.

With that, here are five players who could retire at the end of the 2017-18 season:

Joe Thornton

Thornton signed a hefty one-year, $8-million deal in July, which will likely be his last with the San Jose Sharks.

The 38-year-old tallied a respectable 50 points last season, but just seven goals - three of which were into empty nets. His speed - which has never been his strongest asset - is starting to go and the Sharks are beginning to transition into a younger team.

His future could depend on whether he's able to rebound from last season, but given his age that seems unlikely.

Joel Ward

After a 2015-16 season that saw him tally his second 20-goal campaign, Ward's follow-up year with the Sharks had him amass just 10 goals and 29 points in 78 games.

Ward will turn 37 in December and has just one year left on his three-year, $9.825-million deal. The right-winger took 33 fewer shots than the previous season and also played fewer minutes per game.

Much like Thornton, a future contract past this season will likely depend on this year's production.

Kevin Bieksa

With one year remaining on his contract, his age, and the Anaheim Ducks abundance of talented you defensemen, Bieksa's days are likely numbered.

The club has the likes of Hampus Lindholm, Josh Manson, and Brandon Montour quickly becoming important cogs on the Ducks' blue line, leaving Bieksa likely on the third pairing. Additionally, the team has offered Francois Beauchemin a professional tryout.

Bieksa still has some value, but he's slipping down the depth chart and that can only happen for so long before one must call it quits for good.

Zdeno Chara

Chara isn't any shorter, but he's taken a smaller role on the Boston Bruins blue line.

The 40-year-old is no longer the dominant force on the back end that helped him earned him a Norris Trophy back in 2009. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are quickly becoming the faces of the franchise and young defenders are quickly coming up the pipeline.

Torey Krug, Brandon Carlo, and Charlie McAvoy are poised to lead the Bruins' defense corps, and it might be time for Chara to hand over the reigns and ride off into the sunset.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin

Ok, technically this list has six players. But if one Sedin twin hangs up the skates, then you know the other one will follow suit.

Henrik and Daniel are entering the final year of their respective four-year, $28-million contracts. The 2016-17 season was the first campaign since 2006 that neither of them led the Vancouver Canucks in scoring.

The two have seen their point totals dip for two straight years and in the past have hinted at finishing their careers in Vancouver. Given the team's supposed new direction - as it rebuilds for the future - it's hard to envision two 36-year-olds being a part of that.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)

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