The Blackhawks are apparently sitting out this round of college free agents.

The Blackhawks have not reached out to free agent defenseman Will Butcher as of Thursday afternoon and forward Alex Kerfoot as of Wednesday afternoon, according to sources. Both became free agents at 12 a.m. ET after their draft rights expired on Tuesday.

Multiple sources had expected the Blackhawks to make a pitch for Butcher, a left-handed defenseman, who had played the last four years at the University of Denver. Butcher’s rights had previously been owned by the Colorado Avalanche.

There had been no indication the Blackhawks would pursue Kerfoot, who had played four years at Harvard and was drafted by the New Jersey Devils.

The Blackhawks’ lack of interest in either player could be an indication of their desire to allow their currently signed players an opportunity.

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman has said he wants to give Michal Kempny and Gustav Forsling, both left-handed defensemen, larger roles this upcoming season. The Blackhawks will also have an abundance of left-handed defensemen behind them in the AHL.

The Blackhawks also have a number of young forwards who could be knocking on the NHL door in the near future. In just the last year, the Blackhawks signed Alex DeBrincat, Alexandre Fortin, John Hayden, Matthew Highmore, Matheson Iacopelli, David Kampf, Anthony Louis and Nathan Noel to entry-level contracts.

The Blackhawks are currently at 44 contracts for next season. Teams are allowed a maximum of 50 contracts.

(Top photo: Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)