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.
The Penguins entered last night’s NHL draft lottery with an infinitesimal 1.5 percent chance of…
In the wake of the Penguins cutting ties with associate coach Todd Reirden yesterday, the…
The Penguins have elected to “part ways” with associate coach Todd Reirden. A nice way…
With the NHL regular season squarely in the rear-view mirror and the Stanley Cup playoffs…
Apparently there was a rumor (since squashed) circulating through the hockey universe that Penguins coach…
I confess, I was at least somewhat surprised to learn the Penguins have signed forward…
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