Categories: PenguinPoop

Butcher’s Block: Penguins Sign Former Devils D-Man

The Penguins seem keen on cornering the market on small, puck-moving, ex-Devils defensemen.

In a somewhat intriguing add, they signed 28-year-old Will Butcher to a two-way contract yesterday that pays $775,000 at the NHL level ($425,000 in the AHL).

Kinda wish we’d signed Garth Butcher, a snarling defenseman who patrolled the blueline for several teams back in the 1980s and ‘90s instead, but since he’s 60-years-old that probably wouldn’t work out too well.

Butcher (Will) was actually a player of significant promise only a few short years ago. After leading the University of Denver to the NCAA Championship and garnering the Hobey Baker Award his senior year, he was pursued by a number of NHL teams before signing with Ray Shero and New Jersey.

Following a splashy three-assist debut against Colorado (the team that drafted him back in 2013), Butcher enjoyed a strong rookie season in 2017-18, piling up 44 points (including five goals) to earn a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Shades of Ty Smith.

Like Smith, Butcher’s star gradually began to wane. His production dipped to 30 points the following season (4+26) and 21 points in 56 games in ’19-20.

After recording 11 points (1+10) in 23 games for the Devils during the abbreviated ’20-21 campaign, he was dealt to Buffalo for a fifth-round pick. Butcher washed out with the rebuilding Sabres, then signed with Dallas. Spending the entire ’22-23 season with the AHL Texas Stars, he produced six goals and 43 points.

Superficially, his numbers and style of play remind me of former Pens first-rounder Derrick Pouliot. Butcher’s a plus-skater whose forte is moving and distributing the puck. Stout defense (minus-37 in 275 NHL games) and physical play (97 career hits) are not.

Which makes the 5’10” 190-pounder an ideal defenseman for coach Mike Sullivan’s scheme.

Rick Buker

View Comments

  • Hey all.

    A quicky follow-up. The Stars signed Pouliot to replace Butcher, which kind of backs up my observation about the similarities in their styles.

    Rick

Recent Posts

Penguins Use Puck Luck to Pluck Ducks, 2-1

Well, our Penguins finally did it! They played a reasonably complete 60-minute game (62:35 actually)…

1 day ago

Ex-Penguins Update: Halloween Special

I thought I'd take a break from the relentlessly grim news surrounding our skidding Penguins…

2 days ago

Dubas’ Trade Strategy: Out with the Old, In with the New

  The Penguins are off to a rough start, to say the least. Over their…

2 days ago

Penguins Lose Again, Time to Say Goodbye

Perhaps the title of this article should be, “The More Things Change, the More They…

3 days ago

Fragile Penguins Buckle Again, Bow to Canucks 4-3

Before I spout my two cents worth over last night's come-from-in-front loss to the Canucks,…

6 days ago

The Soul of the Penguins Died Vs Vancouver

Last night's game was hard to watch. The Penguins' usual problems were on full display:…

6 days ago