NHL News: NJ Devils, LA Kings and Toronto Maple Leafs
The New Jersey Devils sign free agent defenseman Will Butcher
On the New Jersey Devils …

Chris Ryan of NJ.com: The New Jersey Devils signed Will Butcher yesterday to a two-year contract with a base salary of $925,000 a season.

Butcher chose the Devils over Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, Las Vegas Golden Knights, Columbus Blue Jackets and Pittsburgh Penguins.

Butcher could make the team out of training camp. Potential pairings to start the season.

Andy GreeneDamon Severson
John MooreBen Lovejoy
Will Butcher-Steven Santini
Mirco Mueller

The Devils play the Colorado Avalanche – the team who drafted Butcher – in their first game of the season.

Luke Fox: So the Devils signed Butcher (Avs draft pick), and the Avalanche signed Alex Kerfoot (Devils draft pick).

Stephen Whyno: Devils GM Ray Shero has done a good job this offseason by being able to add Nico Hischier, Marcus Johansson, Mirco Mueller, Drew Stafford, Brian Boyle and Will Butcher.

On the Los Angles Kings …

John Hoven: The LA Kings will be bringing in defenseman Chris Lee to training camp on a PTO. The 37-year old defenseman had 65 points in the KHL last season.

On the Toronto Maple Leafs …

Kristen Shilton: The Maple Leafs signed Connor Brown to a three-year contract extension with a $2.1 million salary cap hit over the weekend. The Maple Leafs applied earlier this summer for offseason long-term injury relief, so they were able to get a deal done.

Comparables for Brown could have been as high as $3.5 million a season. The Leafs have plenty of wingers heading into training camp, so he could be fighting a little more for a higher spot in the lineup.