Chris Butler Discussion: Sign, or Walk?

[cannon7]

He's not really worth anything, maybe a 5th. Byron is showing more potential at this point. Butler has been OK for stretches and terrible for others -- seeing a guy like Russell thrive here while Butler digs himself a team worst +/- makes for quite a contrast. If he won't sign a two-way I'd let him walk.

[puckedoff]

6yrs @ 6mill per

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

I'll admit Butler is probably my least favorite Flame... But I can also admit he has taken a step forward this year.

All that being said I still think an upgrade would be ideal.

With Gio, Brodie, Russell and Smid all big parts of the team, and the future, I feel like he is redundant.

We need a bigger RH guy.

Gio
Brodie
Russell
Smid
Wideman
*New guy*
Wotherspoon
Sieloff

I agree that an upgrade would be ideal, but what's wrong with:

Gio
Brodie
Russell
Smid
Wideman
*New Guy*
Butler
Wotherspoon
Sieloff

??

There are always injuries. How many games a year does a team play with all 6 of their top 6 defensemen?

If Wotherspoon and Sieloff (or someone else) show they deserve and need a spot, great!: move out one or two of those guys at the deadline.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Butler looked pretty good against the lighting

[KootenayFlamesFan]

It's fine and dandy to say we should sign someone to upgrade, but how many good d-men will leave their current teams this summer to sign with a team like the Flames that may not see the playoffs anytime soon? Not saying it's impossible, but it's going to be pretty tough. If anything, I could see Burke swinging a trade instead of going for a UFA.

As for Butler, he's played much better during the second half. If they can upgrade, great...if not, I wouldn't have a problem seeing him come back for another year or two.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I agree that an upgrade would be ideal, but what's wrong with:

Gio
Brodie
Russell
Smid
Wideman
*New Guy*
Butler
Wotherspoon
Sieloff

??

There are always injuries. How many games a year does a team play with all 6 of their top 6 defensemen?

If Wotherspoon and Sieloff (or someone else) show they deserve and need a spot, great!: move out one or two of those guys at the deadline.

Ya I've considered keeping him around as a 7th and eventually trading Wideman as I consider Gio, Brodie, Smid and Russell as keepers.

I just hate the lack of RH talent that this team currently has, both on forward and defense... which is why upgrading on Butler for a RH guy would appease me the most. But if we keep him as a 7th we have a pretty good d-core.

[djsFlames]

Never understood why there are so many lefties in hockey and the NHL. I'm a righty, always thought it was the more common side.

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Never understood why there are so many lefties in hockey and the NHL. I'm a righty, always thought it was the more common side.

It's independent of "handed-ness". Golf is the same.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Never understood why there are so many lefties in hockey and the NHL. I'm a righty, always thought it was the more common side.

Let's say you're a natural righty. If you were coached as a kid they'd tell you that it's better to have the right hand at the top of the stick for puck control. If you taught yourself to shoot the opposite way, left hand on top, that means you'd develop to have a more powerful shot.

[doctajones428]

Yes Butler is a 4/5/6 guy, but he's developed into one of the best shot blockers in the league. Very useful player to have, not amazing, but still very useful even if he gets pushed down to a #7 spot

[ForeverFlameFan]

CGY - 2 @ FLA - 1, Butler: 0 G 0 A, +0, 2 BS, TOI: 19:36

[2ArmBands]

Not his biggest fan but it's reaching a point that it only makes sense to sign him.

- showing signs of improvement
- knows the system

But above all... He gives you an option to eat minutes while the younger blue liners develop. If Wotherspoon or Seiloff are playing well you can let them handle more
Minutes. If not you can shelter them and a guy like Butler is perfect to carry the load.

[Alberta_Beef]

I would sign him for a year or two and let Wotherspoon continue to develop without throwing him into the fire. Give Wotherspoon another year in the AHL logging big minutes, let him come up and play a more prominent role than he has in this call-up when there is injuries.

[Wolfman]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

CGY - 2 @ FLA - 1, Butler: 0 G 0 A, +0, 2 BS, TOI: 19:36

Thanks for the stats after every game Mrs. Butler. You must be so proud of your son! Lol

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Wolfman

Thanks for the stats after every game Mrs. Butler. You must be so proud of your son! Lol

That actually made me laugh ... I am just showing those posters that think that Butler isn't all that bad.

[sureLoss]

Pat Steinberg @Fan960Steinberg
Butler says he'd love to be back next year. #Flames

[ForeverFlameFan]

Just updated the remaining 9 games Butler had:

NYR - 3 @ CGY - 4, Butler: 0 G 1 A, +1, 3 BS, TOI: 22:39

CGY - 3 @ OTT - 6, Butler: 0 G 0 A, -1, 2 BS, 3 Hits, 1 TVA, TOI: 23:48

CGY - 2 @ TOR - 3, Butler: 0 G 1 A, +1, 3 BS, 2 GVA, TOI: 19:59

CGY - 4 @ TBL - 1, Butler: 0 G 0 A, -1, 3 BS, 3 GVA, 1 Hit, TOI: 24:18

CGY - 2 @ FLA - 1, Butler: 0 G 0 A, +0, 2 BS, TOI: 19:36

CGY - 1 @ NJD - 0, Butler: 0 G 0 A, +0, 2 BS, TOI: 21:18

LAK - 3 @ CGY - 4 (SO), Butler, 0 G 0 A, -1, 5 BS, 2 Hits, 1 GVA, TOI: 25:30

WPG - 5 @ CGY - 3, Butler, 0 G 0 A, -1, 3 BS, 1 TVA, TOI: 21:49

CGY - 1 @ VAN - 5, Butler, 0 G 0 A, +0, 3 Hits, 2 BS, 3 GVA, TOI: 27:24

In my opinion, with those statistics, he can really eat a lot of minutes with the absence of a defenseman. Right now he is playing top 4 minutes when Wideman and Smid are out.

Sign him @ a 2 year, 2m a year deal. I don't think Wotherspoon could play that well with that many minutes, but I wouldn't know because he hasn't had the opportunity yet.

[SeanCharles]

As much as I've liked his improved play I just feel like we have too many left-handed dman, and he isn't big and gritty so I would prefer a new look there but I wouldnt be totally against him coming back but with Brodie, Gio, Russell and Smid all well established as part of the solution going foward I just don't see a fit for longer than 1-2yrs.

We still have Wideman under contract and with Wotherspoon looking so good in his call-up it just seems to make sense to let him walk...

Gio
Brodie
Russell
Wideman
Smid
*New blood*
Wotherspoon
Sieloff

[Erick Estrada]

I think you have to bring him back unless Burke has his eyes set on an upgrade. Last night proved that the organization doesn't have any defensemen ready to step in outside of maybe Wotherspoon.

[PeteMoss]

I wonder if some team will swoop in and Pardy him (ridiculous contract). But I do think we've seen that having depth on defense is important (like EE says above) and if you can get him back at a reasonable contract you have to do it.