Quote:
Originally Posted by killer_carlson
My hatred for Butler is not hidden at all. Needs to move on and should not be re-signed if we cannot trade him. This topic has been beaten to a pulp.
However, a growing concern for me is that none of our d prospects have been able to push him out of the lineup. It is up to Ramage, Breen, Sieloff, cundari to push him out. Wotherspoon and Billings as well.
The opportunity is there and from where I stand the team isn't winning with Butler in this role. I'd like to think they would play the prospects if there was a chance they could be close to Butler, but they arent close at this point.
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I fully agree that the job should be earned by one of the kids, not given.
But I think you are jumping the gun if you are disappointed that they haven't yet - it takes time to develop defensemen, and rushing them is often disastrous.
I have watched Wotherspoon fairly closely for a long time and I posted before the season that I fully expected that it would take him time to get the pro game. He is not a guy that comes in and wows everyone. He slowly, steadily improves. I think keeping him in the A all this year and maybe some or all of next year is the right way to go.
Ramage isn't huge and he needed some time to learn the pro game as well. Personally, I am not as high on him as Tspoon, but let's give him some time and see how much he can develop.
Breen has been injured much of the year and that has held him back.
Same for Sieloff, who I am very high on. And even though he probably isn't as good a defenseman as Tspoon, his game should translate to the NHL quicker, just due to his strength and the role he would likely play (more limited).
Billins has been better than expected, but is really a Russell clone and there isn't room for another small d-man.
The only 'disappointment' has been Cundari and I am not going to write him, or anyone else off in 20 games.
Patience - I think one of them pushes Butler out by the end of the year. Especially now that we have Smid in the mix as well.