Ben Storm Signs ATO with Rampage and other Saturday News

Good morning all. Other than the Avs facing the wings for the final time at Joe Louis Arena later on today, we also have some good news on the prospect front.

- Adrian Dater broke news during the DU-North Dakota game that his sources indicate the Avs will offer DU captain, Hobey Baker finalist and 2013 5th round pick Will Butcher a “competitive contract” (meaning an ELC) for next season. Nothing can happen until Denver’s season comes to a close so we’ll be waiting for a few weeks at the least to see if they follow through.

- Long after the Rampage fell 2-1 to the San Diego Gulls in OT last night, San Antonio announced that Ben Storm has signed an Amateur Try-Out contract for the rest of this season. Storm was picked by the Avs in the 6th round in 2013 as a defenseman and headed to St Cloud State. He switched to forward last year and was one of SCSU’s captains in his senior season. Just to refresh your memory, he’s a gigantic (6’7 230#) person that’s been to every dev camp since being drafted and has been one of the leaders for the past couple. Good guy, glad to see him getting a shot.

- The Rampage also announced that NCAA UFA Brady Shaw was signed to an ATO. Shaw is a medium-sized (6’1 205#) forward that’s spent the past few years at the University of Vermont. Never heard of him before this morning so not much to tell you about his game. If you want the nepotistic Avs connection, his father Brad played for the Hartford Whalers with Rampage defensive coach Randy Ladouceur back in the 80’s and early 90’s.

Avs-wingy wheels puck drops at 1pm ET/11am MT, game thread will be up in a couple hours. Be there or be square.