Butler - You Knew This Was Coming

[Street Pharmacist]

I'm just glad there's less people telling me I'm scapegoating when I say he's our worst defenseman unlike previous years.

[Poe969]

I guess they'll keep him and SOB on the team in case the wheels fall of this year and down the stretch they really want to "play bad for Ekblad". If you could combine the two of them, I'd still rather have Ovechkin on defense...

[GreenLantern]

Tough to watch him boggle the puck all over the ice, he is very lucky it was mishandled at the blue line for that Stempniak goal.. if you watch his clearing attempt there it was just horrible. It reminds me of a play that someone like myself would do in a NHL situation, pure panic from inexperience.

[SuperMatt18]

Issue is his consistency.

He will have a couple good games and then put up one like tonight where the puck is a grenade.

[8sPOT]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO last night's game was the Flames best defensive effort all season and even the Butler/O'Brien pairing was solid as the Ducks really got few scoring chances after the first period. However that Butler giveaway was brutal but it was matched by an equally poor giveaway by Brodie. I get that the mob mentality regarding Butler but Brodie hasn't exactly been great this season. Those two giveaways spoiled an otherwise good night by the defense.

I agree Brodie made some mistakes against the Ducks but you can't lump him in with Butler.

Out of 20 plays Brodie makes the right decision 15-18 times, Butler would be more around 10-14. Thats a big difference over the course of a game.

Also, Brodie is able to carry the puck out of the zone regularly, I'm not sure I've ever seen Butler do that.

I think O'Brien is better than Butler. At least he's able to somewhat protect the puck and makes the safe play more often than Butler.

I think we all agree that Smith should be playing instead of Butler though.

[Flashpoint]

Remember the "Tunnel of Death"?

Those were good times.

F U Butler.

F U.

[1991 Canadian]

People have already keyed in on this, but if you're an average defenseman you need to consistently make safe/smart plays. That has to be the asset you bring to the team. Butler doesn't do this.

I think fans can overlook a boneheaded play by players who bring a strong asset to the team in another area. For example, I could overlook a stupid play by Phaneuf because he least brought a physical game and a booming shot for the powerplay.

Butler isn't young. He's not slow, but he doesn't use his speed very effectively. He shoots muffins. Doesn't make the big hit. Doesn't have much offensive or defensive awareness. Doesn't seem to be a leader on the team.

I mean, try and finish this sentence,
"Sure Butler makes mistakes, but he brings _______"

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO last night's game was the Flames best defensive effort all season and even the Butler/O'Brien pairing was solid as the Ducks really got few scoring chances after the first period. However that Butler giveaway was brutal but it was matched by an equally poor giveaway by Brodie. I get that the mob mentality regarding Butler but Brodie hasn't exactly been great this season. Those two giveaways spoiled an otherwise good night by the defense.

The Butler/O'Brien pair was solid?

they were always hemmed in and skating around like chickens with their head cut off.

[Huntingwhale]

It's always a good thing when you don't notice a defender, especially a bottom pairing one. But I'm glad I'm not the only person who noticed his poor showing last night. He's not talented in any way really. Decent skater. No offense. Poor defense. Not physical. Doesn't show leadership in any way.

What exactly does this guy do right? FFS, he's had 2 shots the last 5 games, for a total of 5 all year. Pathetic. Like others have said, he has shown no improvement since he arrived here. He's still young, but I've lost faith that he can improve in any of his facets.

[Muta]

The best part is, the Flames coaching and management staff see Butler as an important cog in our top six and, short of murdering the ownership group, he'll always have a spot to play on the team. In their minds, he's an NHL'er through and through. If that wasn't the case, Smith would have drawn in already.

[LouCypher]

With most of our defense seeming to be the mobile puck moving type I dont see why it would be so hard to take one of those guys away...ie Butler due to regular mistakes and put in someone physical who can play D like Breen or Sieloff. We will see some mistakes but either guy would be adding an element we still need more of.

[mrdonkey]

If this team really is a meritocracy we will see someone called up from Abby to replace Butler. Your move, Feaster.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by 8sPOT

I think we all agree that Smith should be playing instead of Butler though.

I know fans still cling to Smith's initial stint with the Flames two years ago when he looked pretty good but the truth is since he got injured he's been absolute garbage the past two seasons. There is no way he's better than Butler. I would bring up a defenseman from Abbotsford before playing Smith.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO last night's game was the Flames best defensive effort all season and even the Butler/O'Brien pairing was solid as the Ducks really got few scoring chances after the first period. However that Butler giveaway was brutal but it was matched by an equally poor giveaway by Brodie. I get that the mob mentality regarding Butler but Brodie hasn't exactly been great this season. Those two giveaways spoiled an otherwise good night by the defense.

Brodie's body of work this year has been excellent - continued improvement on last year, despite the fact that he has been given a much larger and more difficult role.


Back to the topic at hand...

I agree with the general sentiment that Butler has the tools and, when he came here, he was a 24 year old with limited NHL experience - i.e. he deserved a chance.

However, two years later, we have seen no progression whatsoever - in fact, one could argue that there has been regression.

It is time to put him in the pressbox and give someone else a chance.

Unfortunately, Breen isn't quite ready. And Sieloff is banged up. Haven't heard any reports on Wotherspoon's play in Abby, but I would like to see him come up for a few games.

But I think you have to throw Smith in there first.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Brodie's body of work this year has been excellent - continued improvement on last year, despite the fact that he has been given a much larger and more difficult role.

IMO he's hit a wall and his offensive game isn't as good as expected given what he did in junior but it's early in the season so IMO it's not a crisis.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by DOOM

Ummmm....they didn't get two 2nds ........

Two 2nds two years after giving up Butler and Byron and seeing Regehr perform like a shell of himself in Buffalo.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

IMO he's hit a wall and his offensive game isn't as good as expected given what he did in junior but it's early in the season so IMO it's not a crisis.

Brodie is being thrown into an entirely new role with a whole different level of expectations. He went from a bottom pairing D to a top 4 last season, now he's getting 23+ minutes a night on the first pair. The assignments are tougher. Last year he'd match up on the Saku Koivus of the world, these year he gets Getzlaf and Perry. There's an adjustment.

Butler is being asked to do a fair to middling job on the bottom pair. Nothing more. And he's failing.

[Phanuthier]

At least he's still young and cheap

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

People are too hard on Butler, not his fault the Flames are playing him out of position and beyond his capabilities.....................................

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

At least he's still young and cheap

We aren't close to the cap and we don't sign his cheque so why should we care if he's cheap?

If he played for free, he would still be terrible.