[Rumour] Chris Butler won't be back

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Miniac

Nice find, thank you.

didn't Butler have one of the highest defensive zone start percentages in the league? Mix that with a poor team and the most PK minutes on the team what exactly do you expect? I mean christ, you can't look at 1 bad number without some context. Butler may not be a great defenseman, but he isn't a bad one either.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by getbak

That was a first day signing. Last year, free agency started on the 5th.

[Jason14h]

I for one think Butler would fit in well in our quest for McDavid, errrrrr the playoffs

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

didn't Butler have one of the highest defensive zone start percentages in the league? Mix that with a poor team and the most PK minutes on the team what exactly do you expect? I mean christ, you can't look at 1 bad number without some context. Butler may not be a great defenseman, but he isn't a bad one either.

Well if he was at least ok, I'm sure the team that finished 27th overall would sign him to help them out. It's not like he's deciding not to sign here, the flames didn't take him back. There are still better options than him not because it's a deep UFA pool but because he isn't as good as most others.

Good guy, bad hockey player. Sorry

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Poe969

Well if he was at least ok, I'm sure the team that finished 27th overall would sign him to help them out. It's not like he's deciding not to sign here, the flames didn't take him back. There are still better options than him not because it's a deep UFA pool but because he isn't as good as most others.

Good guy, bad hockey player. Sorry

The Flames did offer him a contract though, so there goes your theory. He turned down whatever the offer was and it was speculated by some posters here that his wife wants him playing closer to home.

[Poe969]

I didn't think the flames offered him a contract, I haven't seen anything about that. Either way, I'm still going to stand by my theory that if he was good, a team would sign him. Saying he could have contracts offered to him is as valid as saying the same abiut David Moss. We don't know if he does or doesn't, we just know that he isn't signed while other options are being signed.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Poe969

I didn't think the flames offered him a contract, I haven't seen anything about that. Either way, I'm still going to stand by my theory that if he was good, a team would sign him. Saying he could have contracts offered to him is as valid as saying the same abiut David Moss. We don't know if he does or doesn't, we just know that he isn't signed while other options are being signed.

I don't know why I bothered wasting my time replying to you. You are far beyond reason.

[AC]

Where did you hear we offered him a contract?

The only comment I saw was that he wouldn't be back but I might have missed it.

[OzSome]

I think during the exit interview Butler hinted to the Flames that he wants to play somewhere else that's why they even bothered to negotiate with him before the free agency starts. I got a feeling that he wants to play close to St. Louis but none of those teams (Blues, Hawks, Wings and others) are looking to sign a defenseman in his calibre. I am sure Butler will sign somewhere before the season starts. Last season some FA didn't sign until later...Mason Raymond was one of them. I am not sure if Flames management doesn't care if he wants to play here or not... from the sign of it, i don't think they are interested in him either.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by OzSome

I think during the exit interview Butler hinted to the Flames that he wants to play somewhere else that's why they even bothered to negotiate with him before the free agency starts. I got a feeling that he wants to play close to St. Louis but none of those teams (Blues, Hawks, Wings and others) are looking to sign a defenseman in his calibre. I am sure Butler will sign somewhere before the season starts. Last season some FA didn't sign until later...Mason Raymond was one of them. I am not sure if Flames management doesn't care if he wants to play here or not... from the sign of it, i don't think they are interested in him either.

IMO, his $1.7 mil pay raise from Feaster must have inflated his head more than his bank account. Most likely figured he'd get another payday somewhere else.

Good luck to him, but I can understand why the new brass wanted to part ways. Not worth a repeat contract of that caliber.

[jschick88]

Andy Strickland ‏@andystrickland 21s
Handful of teams still talking to free agent Dman Chris Butler....Calgary #Flames haven't fully closed the door on bringing him back #NHL

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Andy Strickland ‏@andystrickland 21s
Handful of teams still talking to free agent Dman Chris Butler....Calgary #Flames haven't fully closed the door on bringing him back #NHL

oh no.....

[Fire]

Please close the door.

[Street Pharmacist]

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by AC

Where did you hear we offered him a contract?

The only comment I saw was that he wouldn't be back but I might have missed it.

This was before it was said he wouldn't be back, even before Treliving was hired I believe. It was said Burke (I think) made offers to the UFAs the Flames were still interested in keeping around. Then there were talks of ongoing negotiations after that, then some time later it was said Butler would not be returning.

[getbak]

On Tuesday, when Treliving was on The Fan, he was asked about the UFAs like Westgarth and Butler, and he said that they're moving on from those players and wishing them all the best (about 16:45 into the interview on their website).

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by getbak

On Tuesday, when Treliving was on The Fan, he was asked about the UFAs like Westgarth and Butler, and he said that they're moving on from those players and wishing them all the best (about 16:45 into the interview on their website).

Yeah, I heard this too. I wouldn't expect him back.

[bubbsy]

i wouldn't expect him back, especially after hearing that interview referenced above from Treliving .

I actually think i wouldn't have minded having him back if we were hoping to fill a NHL roster spot (ie. not put in a rookie) and were in that race for mcdavid.

i think we'll appreciate engelland more on that bottom pairing. He may not be the best defenceman out there, but i know i was sick of our goalie getting run, or post whistle scrums where our dmen really never strike fear in the opposition (not their fault, we just don't have many guys of that ilk on the back end).

gotta respect Butler for definitely showing improvement last season. i think he's a 6-7 dman in the NHL on the average team however.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

[The Original FFIV]

Thinking about this more, maybe Treliving is ok bringing Butler back contingent on us moving one of our d (cough cough Wideman). If we are able to move wideman for a valuable piece no harm in bringing Butler back as we still need nhl d. Provided he is used properly butler is serviceable.