I think you have to keep both Wideman and Butler for next season, in light of the cap situation, and for depth. I agree that Wotherspoon playing at this level makes Butler expendable, but having a surplus of depth and cap-space to contain it is never a bad thing.
This creates a very good problem to have after next year, though. If the Flames have seven or eight very serviceable NHL defensemen, then they should be able to parlay one or even two of them into players that fill key roles elsewhere in the roster, or into draft picks.
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