Chris Butler: Credit Where Credit is Due - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

CsInMyBlood · 11-13-2013, 09:44 AM

I hate Chris Butler.

I have never hid my hate of Chris Butler, he has been horrible for the Calgary Flames since he got here, he is now on his 3rd year as a Flame.

Many times I have sighted his lack of hockey IQ, horrible pass out of the zone, lack of coverage, handling the puck like it's a hand grenade, backing in giving opposing forwards time and space, screening his goalies, poor decisions on the blue line and a black hole on offense.

These last 5 games have been BY FAR the best hockey Chris Butler has played in a Flames uniform. Starting in Chicago all the way through to last nights game vs. San Jose he has played some very solid hockey and has averaged over 23 mins a night in this five game span.

His decision making has been top notch, his defensive coverage has been solid, passes out of his zone have been hard and crisp right on the tape. One backhand saucer pass out of the zone last night made me rewind the game so I could watch it again it was so beautiful.

He has skated the puck out of the zone and through the neutral ice with confidence, had some great hard shots on net from the blueline which were converted into goals or great chances on the ensuing rebound.

He has used his body to angle guys off the puck, been physical without taking his usual stupid penalties, hasn't served up the puck to opponents on a platter with a brutal giveaway and has blocked A LOT of shots.

I for one am totally shocked at his recent play as I have maybe missed watching one or two games total while he has worn the Flames jersey. There is zero doubt in my mind that this is the best hockey he has played in Calgary.

Don't know what has clicked in his head, what is different (perhaps Brodie as his D partner?) or what he is being fed, but I for one am enjoying watching what he has brought to the team over these last five games.

Kudos to you Mr. Butler, please keep it up.

Cali Panthers Fan · 11-13-2013, 09:46 AM

Waiting for the epic fight between Bertuzzied and Erick Estrada.

SuperMatt18 · 11-13-2013, 09:54 AM

He has had some games of play like this over the last two years but this is the best he has played over a stretch of games.

His issue was always he would have two alright games, and then follow it up with an absolute stinker.

Even then though CalgaryPuck was always overly harsh on him and scapegoated him. Happy to see him starting to figure it out on a more consistent basis because he seems like he is a real good locker room guy, and was by far the most engaging and happiest guy to be there at the Fan Festival thing a couple weeks back.

Rocky Raccoon · 11-13-2013, 09:54 AM

Robo · 11-13-2013, 09:55 AM

He has looked great the last couple games I think when gio comes back if everybody is healthy we have 3 decent d lines that can each average about 20 mins a game

BlackWallStreet · 11-13-2013, 09:57 AM

Funny how his nickname is buts

nik- · 11-13-2013, 10:00 AM

Darth Vader killed the Emperor in the end ... but he was still a horrible horrible man.

Young-Sneezy · 11-13-2013, 10:02 AM

First its Butler is playing well, next its the Oilers aren't that bad, then its "ITS CANADAS CUP! CHEER FOR THE CANUCKS!"

Slippery slope you people are on....

Erick Estrada · 11-13-2013, 10:03 AM

He is what he is. A bottom pairing defenseman that can fill in the top 4 when needed. Useful to have as subbing in Smith or SOB in a top pairing for any extended amount of time would be a disaster.

Personally I feel he works well with Bodie and I think it may not be a bad idea to keep them together when Giordano comes back as pairings of;

Giordano - Smid
Russell - Wideman
Brodie - Butler

That looks a lot better than opening pairings at the start of the season although I feel the coaches will tinker with pairings once Gio is healthy to see where Smid fits best and maybe a Smid - Butler pairing can work.

kirant · 11-13-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Personally I feel he works well with Brodie and I think it may not be a bad idea to keep them together when Giordano comes back as pairings of;

I think the Brodie-Butler synergy is a huge part of Butler's improved play. Butler has had a myriad of partners and hasn't looked comfortable with any of them before.

Brodie and Butler makes sense as a bottom pairing at the moment. Brodie seems to suffer the same problem Giordano did a few years ago and really struggles with anything over 20-22 minutes.

dissentowner · 11-13-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Young-Sneezy

"ITS CANADAS CUP! CHEER FOR THE CANUCKS!"

Slippery slope you people are on....

I will take things that will never happen for $1000 Alex.

Envitro · 11-13-2013, 10:14 AM

He was the goat on the OT goal, and has had some horrible turnovers in the defensive zone the last few games

7th Dman at best right now IMO

Bandwagon In Flames · 11-13-2013, 10:23 AM

I don't think his recent play has deserved it's own thread, I haven't been all that impressed with him overall.

He has had some good shifts of late and can make some good backhand passes out of the zone, but his decision making is often TERRIBLE. I saw it last game, there were 2 turnovers that I know only Butler makes, and it was number 44 both times. Rather than re-group in his own zone with the puck, 10 times out of 10 he just backhands it back to the opposition and I CANT STAND IT! He will be surrounded by teammates and there will be 0 forecheckers, but he still thinks the best play is to backhand it up to their forwards or defense. I've never got why he does it and he's never stopped doing it.

Yes he's made good plays, but it's because his bad plays aren't seeming as costly immediately. He just gives them way more puck possession time than necessary. For Butler, it's a win if he gets it out of the defensive zone.

This may just be a lack of confidence, but because of this I'm not ready to praise the guy quite yet.

Bertuzzied · 11-13-2013, 10:23 AM

Yay Butler is average! Stop it with these threads!

SuperMatt18 · 11-13-2013, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envitro

He was the goat on the OT goal, and has had some horrible turnovers in the defensive zone the last few games

7th Dman at best right now IMO

No idea how you can watch the games since Gio's injury and come to that conclusion.

Also not sure how he is the "goat" on the OT goal. What is he supposed to do when he has Thornton and Stuart entering the zone with speed and no back pressure help since Backlund made a bad play at the other blue line.

The Yen Man · 11-13-2013, 10:36 AM

The guy gets a bit of a raw deal here. When he makes a mistake, there are no shortage of people going above and beyond to point it out. When he's playing well, the same people are reluctant to admit it. Human nature I guess, as once bias sets in, it's hard to form objective opinions without that bias influencing it.

The guy is what he is, a 4-6 dman. It's not his fault coaches and management put him in a position to fail (top pairing dman). Its nice to see him playing well IMO.

CsInMyBlood · 11-13-2013, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Envitro

He was the goat on the OT goal, and has had some horrible turnovers in the defensive zone the last few games

7th Dman at best right now IMO

I don't think the OT goal was Butlers fault.

He was credited with one giveaway last night.

He was also credited with EIGHT blocked shots and an assist last night.

Honestly if the guy continues playing like he has over the last 5 games then I wont bash him anymore. I've always understood he is a bottom pairing D man, he gets paid like a bottom pairing D man, but he's always been more of a disaster than a 5-6 man should be.

I see a vast improvement in his game of late and hope it continues.

Bertuzzied · 11-13-2013, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

No idea how you can watch the games since Gio's injury and come to that conclusion.

Also not sure how he is the "goat" on the OT goal. What is he supposed to do when he has Thornton and Stuart entering the zone with speed and no back pressure help since Backlund made a bad play at the other blue line.

You attack Thornton and you leave Brad No Score Stuart alone. I mean Butler did realize that, but it was too late and he gave Thornton too much space.

Chris Butler does not warrant a thread on CP.

SuperMatt18 · 11-13-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

You attack Thornton and you leave Brad No Score Stuart alone. I mean Butler did realize that, but it was too late and he gave Thornton too much space.

Chris Butler does not warrant a thread on CP.

Who ended up scoring the goal?

Bertuzzied · 11-13-2013, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CsInMyBlood

I don't think the OT goal was Butlers fault.

He was credited with one giveaway last night.

He was also credited with EIGHT blocked shots and an assist last night.

Honestly if the guy continues playing like he has over the last 5 games then I wont bash him anymore. I've always understood he is a bottom pairing D man, he gets paid like a bottom pairing D man, but he's always been more of a disaster than a 5-6 man should be.

I see a vast improvement in his game of late and hope it continues.

Why is he on the ice in OT in the first minute? Take him out of the equation. Get him off the Flames as i'm sure some team needs a shotblocking dman thats younger and cheap.