Chris Butler Discussion: Sign, or Walk?

[irrevocable]

He can go find work elsewhere. Get outta here Butler.

[Da_Chief]

Butler on the 3rd pair would excellent. Re-sign him and trade him next trade deadline. Manage your assets. He is an NHL dman. If Adam Fraking Pardy got 2 mill a year then Butler will easily find a home if he's not wanted here.

You're not going to have 6 Giordanos. Let him play about 15 mins a night on PK and against lower lines and he'll be fine.

The hate for him is not fair at all. He didn't ask to be in the Regher trade. He didn't tell B. Sutter to pair him with JBo.

As a shot blocking 3rd pair dman, he's fine. I know if we were a playoff team right now I'd trust him more then Wideman and Wotherspoon right now.

[Erick Estrada]

He's in his prime right now so I would sign him to a 2 year deal. He's been an underappreciated player by Flames fans but I sense the coach and GM see his value which is why there have been contract talks.

[AcGold]

I say sign unless we can get a better third pairing guy. The fact that he's making improvement means he is listening and working hard so that's a big plus over a new guy

[puckluck2]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

He's in his prime right now so I would sign him to a 2 year deal. He's been an underappreciated player by Flames fans but I sense the coach and GM see his value which is why there have been contract talks.

I haven't heard anyone mention Butler has had contract talks. Do you have a link?

[King Theo]

Let him walk. He is a 5- 6 dman, we are rebuilding, let a kid take that spot and build his skillset to move up the line

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

I haven't heard anyone mention Butler has had contract talks. Do you have a link?

Burke discussed it in his post trade deadline interviews that they have had discussions with his agent about a contract.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by King Theo

Let him walk. He is a 5- 6 dman, we are rebuilding, let a kid take that spot and build his skillset to move up the line

Chris Butler is 27 years old. Some of you talk about him like he's 30+ years old and his best days are behind him when the truth is that his best days are probably still ahead of him.

[Poe969]

why not take a risk on a young defensman as a reclimation project like we did with Colborne and Russell for that matter. With Butler, we know what we have; he isn't anything special but not as horrible as we originally though. He's an average 5-6 defensman. Next year we won't be a contender, why not try to pick up another teams young defensman they're getting tired of having and hope for the best.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Clearly a polarizing guy. Put me in the sign him camp, 2 years max.

[Husky]

Originally Posted by Miniac

List of UFA defensemen for anyone interested,

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year...D&fa_type_id=2

and RFA

http://capgeek.com/free-agents/?year...D&fa_type_id=1

In a pleasant world, Flames somehow offload Wideman and sign Niskanen. Resign Butler for a 2 year deal.

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Niskanen
Smid - Butler
Young guy for injuries

Not a huge imrpovement but Flames get younger and more mobile (I find Wideman a poor skater).

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Husky

In a pleasant world, Flames somehow offload Wideman and sign Niskanen. Resign Butler for a 2 year deal.

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Niskanen
Smid - Butler
Young guy for injuries

Not a huge imrpovement but Flames get younger and more mobile (I find Wideman a poor skater).

That UFA class is pretty bad. A big reason I think we try and keep him for two more years at around 2 mil average.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Husky

In a pleasant world, Flames somehow offload Wideman and sign Niskanen. Resign Butler for a 2 year deal.

Giordano - Brodie
Russell - Niskanen
Smid - Butler
Young guy for injuries

Not a huge imrpovement but Flames get younger and more mobile (I find Wideman a poor skater).

Not sure I would want to pay Niskanen $3.5-4 million for 5 years which is probably what he will get in free agency given the lack of quality defenseman available.

[kermitology]

Walk. Throw some money at a UFA that is better than him.

[Troubamaker]

You don't just walk. You run!

[Wolfman]

Walk hard

[Zee]

Chris Butler gets a bad rap because someone thought he was good on the first pairing with J Bo.
He is not that bad, and is fine as 5/6/7, and is steadily improving.

[stone hands]

I'm down for signing him to a 2 year contract. He was really really awful last year and the beginning of this year, when he had to play hard minutes. Now that he's sheltered and where he should be, I can't say that I notice him at all, which in Chris' case is a great thing. As long as he can be signed for a reasonable amount(not that cap space is really going to matter much for the Flames in the next few years) then go for it

Wideman on the other hand...

[Brick]

Chris Butler has improved quite a lot over the course of this season. I would have no problem if they re-signed him.

[FlamesKickAss]

don't just let him walk, make him run