Quote:
Originally Posted by Erick Estrada
Really? I don't think you are vindicated at all and more trying to push your opinion as fact. IMO he's [Butler] been by far the best of the 5+ defenders and IMO could possibly replace Giordano as the 4th defenseman. Much better than Sarich or Smith. I think like Moon you have already made up your mind on him and outside of winning a Norris nothing is going to change your opinion of him. He's a good skater and positionally sound. He's a little weak along the boards and coughs up the puck on occasion but most of the time he quietly goes about his business. Couldn't ask for a better depth defenseman IMO.
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OMG...no, no, no. Just plain wrong.
Look, I was a staunch defender of Butler last year as I didn't want to admit that we got very little back in the Regehr deal, but watching him towards the end of the year, he basically single-handedly ruined Bouwmeester's plus/minus. He has potential and I wouldn't want to give up on him, but I don't see him as a top four defender pretty much ever in this league. His decision making and vision are pretty atrocious and whenever the Flames struggle to get the puck out of their own zone you can bet Butler is on the ice.
For my money, Babchuk is a better overall defender...and that's saying something. Who knows, maybe he can improve and show us something more, but so far this year he's been our worst defenseman.
Oh, and for the poster who asked. I would easily take Smith over Butler as the 6th man.
Bouw-Gio
Wideman-Brodie
Smith-Sarich/Babchuk