Will Butcher off to a hot start

[Emperoreddy]

Butcher has definitely been getting better defensively.

Don’t know why some Avs fans feel the need to still cut the legs out from under this kid. He is playing very well

 

[Boud]

Maybe against 4th lines. Put him against top competition routinely and you're gonna have a bad time.

Butcher hasn't miraculously become something he's never been. He needs sheltered (not a bad thing considering he's a pp specialist and not a 5v5 stalwart). He's extremely valuable to teams that need a pp qb. He's not a guy you want outside of your bottom pairing 5v5 though. He'll get exposed pretty badly.

Just like Karlsson. An offensemen.

 

[strictlyrandy]

Ahh the old myth he’s good offensively so he must be bad defensively haha

Not even remotely what I said. He's not a great player in his own zone. He never really has been. His smarts make up a lot for his poor skating, but he should be sheltered. That's just who he is.

Again. He's a fine player. A guy that should face top comp in his own zone he is not.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Werd posts. Whatever. If Butcher keeps playing the way he has then he will have a long and prosperous career.

 

[strictlyrandy]

He is a smart enough player that he should see a solid NHL career. If he works on his skating (don't know if he's got a skating coach with NJ yet) he'll be a much better player. He thinks the game very well. Shame he couldn't get a point tonight. His 5v5 production lacks, hope he picks that up. His usage chart is a fun one to watch.

 

[strictlyrandy]

Just like Karlsson. An offensemen.

Except EK is excellent defensively and produces 5v5. EK is a generational talent. Butcher is a pp specialist.


And I wasn't cutting Butcher's legs out from under him. I said I'm glad he's doing well with NJ. I asked why Avs fans were lamenting not getting him. His style of game isn't what the Avs need.

So to recap...

Butcher is a fine player that needs sheltered defensively (should not be seeing top comp) and should be getting loaded up on pp minutes so he can qb the pp.

His skating is sub par but the way he thinks the game helps him out a lot. These aren't insults. That's just who he is. Keep him in his lane and don't ask him to be what he isn't and you'll be thrilled.

 

[Emperoreddy]

He is a smart enough player that he should see a solid NHL career. If he works on his skating (don't know if he's got a skating coach with NJ yet) he'll be a much better player. He thinks the game very well. Shame he couldn't get a point tonight. His 5v5 production lacks, hope he picks that up. His usage chart is a fun one to watch.

I don’t think he is actually a bad skater. He is just really slow. He does need to try and gain some speed, so I do hope he gets a skating coach in the offseason.

 

[BomaLightDevils]

Except EK is excellent defensively and produces 5v5. EK is a generational talent. Butcher is a pp specialist.


And I wasn't cutting Butcher's legs out from under him. I said I'm glad he's doing well with NJ. I asked why Avs fans were lamenting not getting him. His style of game isn't what the Avs need.

So to recap...

Butcher is a fine player that needs sheltered defensively (should not be seeing top comp) and should be getting loaded up on pp minutes so he can qb the pp.

His skating is sub par but the way he thinks the game helps him out a lot. These aren't insults. That's just who he is. Keep him in his lane and don't ask him to be what he isn't and you'll be thrilled.

What rookie defenseman dosent need sheltering?!?
Maybe provorov but he's a beast!

Let him work he's way up the lineup as time goes. Don't sell him short to soon.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Maybe against 4th lines. Put him against top competition routinely and you're gonna have a bad time.

Butcher hasn't miraculously become something he's never been. He needs sheltered (not a bad thing considering he's a pp specialist and not a 5v5 stalwart). He's extremely valuable to teams that need a pp qb. He's not a guy you want outside of your bottom pairing 5v5 though. He'll get exposed pretty badly.

bruh hes played like 15 games and hes 22 years old. You're telling me players can't improve defensively?

If all he ever turns out to be is a 3rd pairing PP specialist (and hes at LEAST that right now), hes still an important piece.

 

[Blackjack]

Again. He's a fine player. A guy that should face top comp in his own zone he is not.

Shame he couldn't get a point tonight. His 5v5 production lacks, hope he picks that up. His usage chart is a fun one to watch.

Except EK is excellent defensively and produces 5v5. EK is a generational talent. Butcher is a pp specialist...

...Butcher is a fine player that needs sheltered defensively (should not be seeing top comp) and should be getting loaded up on pp minutes so he can qb the pp.

His skating is sub par but the way he thinks the game helps him out a lot. These aren't insults. That's just who he is. Keep him in his lane and don't ask him to be what he isn't and you'll be thrilled.

Yeah, thanks. I think we get it. Kerfoot's a great rookie who will definitely keep scoring on 35% of his shots. You should go somewhere else and post about him for a while.

 

[strictlyrandy]

Yeah, thanks. I think we get it. Kerfoot's a great rookie who will definitely keep scoring on 35% of his shots. You should go somewhere else and post about him for a while.

I was saying nice things about Butcher. Why are you salty about Kerfoot? I think NJ is the perfect fit for him and what he is. I literally never said anything about Kerfoot other than that he's a good fit for the Avs where Butcher wasn't.

We know Kerfoot has an unsustainable shooting percentage. I don't know why you are bringing Kerfoot into this when he isn't relevant to Will Butcher.

 

[strictlyrandy]

bruh hes played like 15 games and hes 22 years old. You're telling me players can't improve defensively?

If all he ever turns out to be is a 3rd pairing PP specialist (and hes at LEAST that right now), hes still an important piece.

I never said he wasn't that right now. I said that's exactly what he is right now. I never said he couldn't get better defensively. I said he's not going to miraculously be something he's never been. I'm implying he's not going to be a defensive stalwart right now when he just hasn't been that. I never said he never will improve. You're reading what you want to read instead of what I'm actually saying.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

I never said he wasn't that right now. I said that's exactly what he is right now. I never said he couldn't get better defensively. I said he's not going to miraculously be something he's never been. I'm implying he's not going to be a defensive stalwart right now when he just hasn't been that. I never said he never will improve. You're reading what you want to read instead of what I'm actually saying.

Do you think he has the potential to be an average defender? I do. Average defense and above average offense = a good NHL DMan

 

[AfroThunder396]

These are the same criticisms people on the Devils board had about Shattnkirk. If his defense matched his offense he'd be Scott Niedermayer.

It's okay to be bad defensively. He's on the ice with 4 other players. His game is offense and the Devils need offense, let him do his thing. He doesn't need to win a Norris to be a valuable player or help the Devils win games.

 

[Classic Devil]

These are the same criticisms people on the Devils board had about Shattnkirk. If his defense matched his offense he'd be Scott Niedermayer.

It's okay to be bad defensively. He's on the ice with 4 other players. His game is offense and the Devils need offense, let him do his thing. He doesn't need to win a Norris to be a valuable player or help the Devils win games.

#5-6 PP guy. He's perfectly serviceable in this role, and maybe even great at it.

 

[strictlyrandy]

#5-6 PP guy. He's perfectly serviceable in this role, and maybe even great at it.

Which is a perfect fit for him. If he gets help with some flaws in his game, he could be a good #4 fill in when injuries happen.

 

[Lays]

Is it too early for him to start serving up crow? Him and Kerfoot both have made me eat my words. It's early but they look like NHLers. I thought Kerfoot would stick but I didn't know he'd look good. Butcher I've seen games of and I didn't think he'd look good at all.

 

[strictlyrandy]

Do you think he has the potential to be an average defender? I do. Average defense and above average offense = a good NHL DMan

I think he can be and is average defensively against weaker comp. He's going to be a good #5/#6. I don't think he's going to bust. I also don't think he'll be a good consistent top 4 guy. That's not where he shines. Favorable zone starts against lesser comp and a load of PP time. He'll excel there. If he turns out to be more than that, excellent. Just don't try to force him into roles he isn't suited for. Let him feast on the lesser comp and qb your power play. He won't disappoint.

As far as sheltering him, someone said of course cus he's a rookie. He doesn't need sheltered because he's a rookie. He needs sheltered just because of the style of game he plays imo.

 

[strictlyrandy]

Is it too early for him to start serving up crow? Him and Kerfoot both have made me eat my words. It's early but they look like NHLers. I thought Kerfoot would stick but I didn't know he'd look good. Butcher I've seen games of and I didn't think he'd look good at all.

I didn't think Kerf would stick around long. As mentioned, he won't sustain his shooting percentage, but that's ok. The rest of his game is unbelievably good. He's been a great fit.

Even though it wasn't an official trade, it is basically a prospect swap and both teams won imo.

 

[Lays]

I didn't think Kerf would stick around long. As mentioned, he won't sustain his shooting percentage, but that's ok. The rest of his game is unbelievably good. He's been a great fit.

Even though it wasn't an official trade, it is basically a prospect swap and both teams won imo.

Yep, I doubt either will sustain it but Butcher will probably turn out to a 4/5 PPQB and Kerfoot an average 3C which is still good and a fair trade like you said. Glad they’re doing well though, like I said, I was sure they’d both fail.

 

[JLo217]

Glad its working out for the Avs and Devils! I think Butcher is far more likely to come back to earth but I hope he doesn't. Was always a fan of him as a DU fan.

 

[NjDevsRR]

But its not a secondary assist

20GP 2G 14A +7

 

[cgf]

I was saying nice things about Butcher. Why are you salty about Kerfoot? I think NJ is the perfect fit for him and what he is. I literally never said anything about Kerfoot other than that he's a good fit for the Avs where Butcher wasn't.

We know Kerfoot has an unsustainable shooting percentage. I don't know why you are bringing Kerfoot into this when he isn't relevant to Will Butcher.

He's just salty that the muffin man is a generational sniper...

Is it too early for him to start serving up crow? Him and Kerfoot both have made me eat my words. It's early but they look like NHLers. I thought Kerfoot would stick but I didn't know he'd look good. Butcher I've seen games of and I didn't think he'd look good at all.

I think Kerfoot is clearly benefitting from NHL teams not knowing much about him and so still respecting his shot. I'm anxious to see how effective he can continue to be when teams realize that they can get away with overplaying the pass against him. Bet he'll have to knife his passes through much tighter windows once teams start to figure that out.

 

[Its a Trap]

This doesn’t need to be bumped every time he gets a point.

 

[TLEH]

It does when some Avs posters were acting like he was an ECHL level player coming out of college. (somebody actually said that, I don't remember who)