Quoting: rangersandislesfan
Well Pittsburgh has just won 2 cups, and he wouldn't get a lot of ice time and they still have some prospects that could take that spot to replace Daley. He'd be a bigger part of another team like Chicago, who's closer to his home ... i thought he'd stay with the Avs but i guess not anymore.
The Penguins have Letang, Schultz, Maatta, and Dumoulin as their top 4, and i could see the Pens giving Pouliot a big role possibly if they move out Maatta/Dumoulin in a Duchene deal. On a team like Chicago, Toronto, or someone like that he'd play a bigger role, and he'd get more ice time, and he wouldn't just go to the Penguins who have no need for him.
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/penguins/2017/07/27/Will-Butcher-Hobey-Baker-Penguins-NCAA-free-agent/stories/201707270152
quote (emphasis mine):
"Immediate playing time is
not absolutely necessary, [Brian Bartlett, Will Butcher's agent] said. And that's good, because it would probably take Butcher a year or two to crack the Penguins NHL roster if he somehow wound up signing here.
'
That’s not what we’re looking to hear – that you can step right in,' Bartlett said. 'Will’s a very grounded and bright kid. He’s been around the game a long time. His dad’s a coach. They really understand that they’re trying to
build a career here. It’s not who can get him there the fastest. It’s really who’s got a plan for him to be an NHL player for a long time if he puts in the work.'"
so, uh, no, Butcher's not interested in who's going to give him the most playing time. this would then give credence to the idea that Butcher likes the Penguins because they have an established track record of turning NCAA players into competent NHL players.