Tyler Wotherspoon Makes Me So Happy

[Husky]

I think Butler has done a complete 180 since the start of the season to where he is now.

He is keeping things simple and not being the goat anymore. Also seems to stick up for teammates.

Overall, the guy is exactly what you want as a #5D.

[Phanuthier]

I think Wotherspoon game and Butlers turnout since SOB was demoted really show how terrible of a player SOB is

[neo45]

Butler is at best serviceable. He gets hemmed in his own zone, has zero offense, and doesnn't clear the front of the net well.

One thing you have to give him credit for is that he is equally serviceable playing 22 mins a night against top players as he is playing 17 mins a night against bottom 6 players. He is a bit of an anomoly in that way. He is good to have to fill in for injuries

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

You clearly have missguided expectations on what Butler is suppossed to be. Maybe you assumed we were gaining a legit Top 2 D-man prospect in the trade when we brought him over, maybe that's not your fault because people tried to hype him that way to justify a bad trade.

But Butler has not hit his ceiling, continues to improve and has potential to be a solid Bottom 3 NHL d-man. We aren't exactly bubbling over depth in this area, so why move him along. More likely is you need to move on, admit that he's not, nor was he ever a top flight D prospect and adjust your expectations.

You know this for a fact or your just making assumptions like the rest of us when we say he has reached his ceiling? I also didn't expect him to be a top 2 D, I expect him to not be a liablility.

[Enoch Root]

Yeah, Butler has been much better the last half of the season and should be re-signed (unless they sign another FA that replaces him).

You don't move out vets and GIVE jobs to kids, especially on defense.

Let Wotherspoon and Sieloff continue to develop. If they get to the point where they are better and have to be in the lineup in his place, great! Trade him and move on with the young guy.

Until then, there is development time and of course, there are always injuries.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Table 5

How did she pronounce the name?

His father says it with an "ah" sound, same as Kerr does

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

You know this for a fact or your just making assumptions like the rest of us when we say he has reached his ceiling?

No one knows whether or not he has reached his ceiling. But he has progressed this year and, from everything I have seen regarding NHL defensemen in my lifetime, there is still plenty of room for growth at 27.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I am not sure why people keep bringing up Regehr with respect to a discussion about Butler. I can understand if you want to bring up the trade in terms of value, but it makes little sense to me to bring him up saying: "People who hate him only because he can't fill Regehr's shoes".

I couldn't stand Butler every single season right up until this one, but it had nothing to do with Regehr or the trade, and everything to do with Butler's performance.

This year, he has really been much more consistently decent - still makes the odd mistake here and there, but everyone does - including Giordano. He doesn't seem to be struggling, and seems to be getting better at making better decisions under pressure (which in the past, would cause turnovers and terrible outlet passes). I can say I 'like' Butler now - but it still has absolutely nothing at all with Regehr.

It is as logical to me as trying to hate on Iginla for not bringing us a cup like Nieuwendyk did, or now hating Agostino, Hanowski and Klimchuk because they were traded for Iginla.

Butler was hated I think because he was simply terrible, and it was compounded with Sutter's insistence on playing him on the top pairing where he would constantly get exposed. He wasn't good last year, even playing bottom pairing minutes, and even at the start of the season, he was not very good at all playing bottom-pairing minutes either. For at least the last half of this season, however, he has been fairly steady, and I like him - and it has absolutely nothing to do with me loving Regehr back in the day one way or the other.

I wouldn't mind keeping him for another season or two - but Wotherspoon is licking at his heels right now. Give Wotherspoon most of next season, and I bet he passes Butler. As long as Burke doesn't sign him to a long-term deal, I will be happy. I won't be too bothered if they let him walk either - he is just a competent bottom-pairing defencemen at the moment, and though he can still develop further, it isn't like he possesses any great skills and strengths to make you believe he will become any more than a fairly good bottom-pairing defencemen.

You still have Wideman and Smid - both of which bring something to the table. Smid with his grit, Wideman with his PP ability. Butler has become an ace at shot blocking though, and he deserves that respect - which is why I wouldn't be against re-signing him.

[midniteowl]

Why do people turn a "Tyler Wortherspoon makes me happy" thread into a hate on Butler?

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I am not sure why people keep bringing up Regehr with respect to a discussion about Butler. I can understand if you want to bring up the trade in terms of value, but it makes little sense to me to bring him up saying: "People who hate him only because he can't fill Regehr's shoes".

I couldn't stand Butler every single season right up until this one, but it had nothing to do with Regehr or the trade, and everything to do with Butler's performance.

This year, he has really been much more consistently decent - still makes the odd mistake here and there, but everyone does - including Giordano. He doesn't seem to be struggling, and seems to be getting better at making better decisions under pressure (which in the past, would cause turnovers and terrible outlet passes). I can say I 'like' Butler now - but it still has absolutely nothing at all with Regehr.

It is as logical to me as trying to hate on Iginla for not bringing us a cup like Nieuwendyk did, or now hating Agostino, Hanowski and Klimchuk because they were traded for Iginla.

Butler was hated I think because he was simply terrible, and it was compounded with Sutter's insistence on playing him on the top pairing where he would constantly get exposed. He wasn't good last year, even playing bottom pairing minutes, and even at the start of the season, he was not very good at all playing bottom-pairing minutes either. For at least the last half of this season, however, he has been fairly steady, and I like him - and it has absolutely nothing to do with me loving Regehr back in the day one way or the other.

I wouldn't mind keeping him for another season or two - but Wotherspoon is licking at his heels right now. Give Wotherspoon most of next season, and I bet he passes Butler. As long as Burke doesn't sign him to a long-term deal, I will be happy. I won't be too bothered if they let him walk either - he is just a competent bottom-pairing defencemen at the moment, and though he can still develop further, it isn't like he possesses any great skills and strengths to make you believe he will become any more than a fairly good bottom-pairing defencemen.

You still have Wideman and Smid - both of which bring something to the table. Smid with his grit, Wideman with his PP ability. Butler has become an ace at shot blocking though, and he deserves that respect - which is why I wouldn't be against re-signing him.

Good for you, and I mean that but people keep bringing it up because for a lot of posters it's true.

There is no logical reason to trade/let walk a guy like Butler if a person understands his role and slot.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

You know this for a fact or your just making assumptions like the rest of us when we say he has reached his ceiling? I also didn't expect him to be a top 2 D, I expect him to not be a liablility.

What do you think? Of course it's an assumption, it's impossible to do anything other when talking about a players ceiling. But you can make educated guesses, but give the position he plays, the improvements he's shown this year and his age...............would strongly indicate he has not hit his ceiling. Pretty normal for NHL d-men to have not peaked at his age.

[united]

He has been about as expected so far for his age and experience, generally getting outplayed despite being handed easy minutes, while showing flashes of brilliance like his exceptional assist on Colborne's goal against the Sharks. Good potential but I would let him dominate the AHL next season, except for injury call-ups. Don't want to "Edmonton" him (Gagner, Nuge, etc.). Plus while Wideman is awful bang-for-buck, he is needed to reach the cap floor as others have mentioned, and Butler likely is, too.


For those who don't know, red=outshot and blue=outshooting; higher on the vertical axis is more difficult competition, and the horizontal axis is self-explanatory.

[Anduril]

Definitely agree with letting him mature in the AHL and being the first call up should we need an injury replacement/coming in full time by the trade deadline.

In the meantime, Butler has reduced his brain farts to an acceptable level, increased the physicality around the net and all around performed better now that he's in the appropriate place on the depth chart.

[Jiggy_12]

Really like his game, quite impressed thus far.

I do believe he is another season away from cracking the roster full time. I have no problem with Giordano, Brodie, Russell, Wotherspoon, and Smid as a solid top 5. If they can bring in another talent via trade or free agency after next season then I think we have a great future on defense. Not to mention Seiloff knocking on the door as well.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by united

He has been about as expected so far for his age and experience, generally getting outplayed despite being handed easy minutes, while showing flashes of brilliance like his exceptional assist on Colborne's goal against the Sharks. Good potential but I would let him dominate the AHL next season, except for injury call-ups. Don't want to "Edmonton" him (Gagner, Nuge, etc.). Plus while Wideman is awful bang-for-buck, he is needed to reach the cap floor as others have mentioned, and Butler likely is, too.


For those who don't know, red=outshot and blue=outshooting; higher on the vertical axis is more difficult competition, and the horizontal axis is self-explanatory.

Using these types of stats when a guy has played 11 games is pushing it.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Using these types of stats when a guy has played 11 games is pushing it.

Not really, it shows how he's being used. He's being sheltered as he adjusts and develops. Reading anything more into it than that is pushing it.

[Da_Chief]

Really shows how terrible Wideman is, 62% starts in the offensive zone and puck still ends up in our zone majority of the time.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

His father says it with an "ah" sound, same as Kerr does

typical CP thread. Blast Kerr, only to find out later that he's right, ignore. Same with Berra earlier in the season.

really like Wotherspoon so far. Hope he sticks with the team next year ... but you just never know how those rookies fare once the honeymoon phase is over.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by united

For those who don't know, red=outshot and blue=outshooting; higher on the vertical axis is more difficult competition, and the horizontal axis is self-explanatory.

Giordano and Brodie are quite good though, eh?