Confirmed with Link: Will Butcher signs with Devils

[Comparison Ford]

Love it.

I still love it

 

[NjDevsRR]

Kid is so smart with the puck and he is solid in his own zone. Work on that foot speed and skys the limit.

 

[Nubmer6]

I've confirmed what I had previously thought. I feel like Butcher plays better on the right side than the left. I'm pretty happy with him paired with Mueller these last couple games. Hopefully they can keep it up.

 

[Devils090]

Putting him back on the top PP unit was a good move

 

[Csonked Out]

I've confirmed what I had previously thought. I feel like Butcher plays better on the right side than the left. I'm pretty happy with him paired with Mueller these last couple games. Hopefully they can keep it up.

he could always play both sides effectively. I like him on the right side as well, Mueller is a much more effective partner for him with his mobility.

 

[BahlDeep]

We might have the best 3rd pairing in the league.

 

[BahlDeep]

And he's outproducing Kerfoot.

 

[Zippy316]

We might have the best 3rd pairing in the league.

But one of the worst first and second pairings

Also, "best third pairing" is highly debatable as well.

 

[HoliksGhost]

I love this kid, I'd have been so pissed if the rags picked him up.

 

[tailfins]

I've confirmed what I had previously thought. I feel like Butcher plays better on the right side than the left. I'm pretty happy with him paired with Mueller these last couple games. Hopefully they can keep it up.

I believe he played RD at Denver, and I think it's where he's more comfortable. This is why I was saying that Mueller was sitting because of Lovejoy. It's a travesty that Lovejoy played 30+ straight games.

 

[Nubmer6]

I believe he played RD at Denver, and I think it's where he's more comfortable. This is why I was saying that Mueller was sitting because of Lovejoy. It's a travesty that Lovejoy played 30+ straight games.

Ya, as far as I know, he played RD his last 2 years there. I just feel like he's more of an offensive threat on the right without sacrificing his D play.

 

[Csonked Out]

Ya, as far as I know, he played RD his last 2 years there. I just feel like he's more of an offensive threat on the right without sacrificing his D play.

I think he has better options for d partners on the right. I said it before he played a game. This is a very intelligent player, his intelligence and ability to get his shot through traffic will always be the 2 best parts of his game.

 

[devilsblood]

I think he has better options for d partners on the right. I said it before he played a game. This is a very intelligent player, his intelligence and ability to get his shot through traffic will always be the 2 best parts of his game.

I don't know if you want to throw poise/confidence into the intelligence basket, but I think those are big parts of his game as well. And his puck skills, which gives him confidence and allows him to be poised.

I'm still pretty skeptical he can defend any better then a third pairing guy, but when the puck is on his stick, he is a darn good player.

 

[Csonked Out]

I don't know if you want to throw poise/confidence into the intelligence basket, but I think those are big parts of his game as well. And his puck skills, which gives him confidence and allows him to be poised.

I'm still pretty skeptical he can defend any better then a third pairing guy, but when the puck is on his stick, he is a darn good player.

I agree on the third pairing but that's ok. I just laughed when people thought his skating would be an issue as I knew it was an overblown statement.

 

[devilsblood]

I agree on the third pairing but that's ok. I just laughed when people thought his skating would be an issue as I knew it was an overblown statement.

I think his skating is an issue. I think his size is too. You do need to hide him a bit.

But in the right situations, he's a weapon.

 

[Nubmer6]

I don't think the size is an issue, but his skating is probably what's holding him down to a 3rd line player.

 

[devilsblood]

I don't think the size is an issue, but his skating is probably what's holding him down to a 3rd line player.

I think size is something more easily overcome nowadays, but it is still an issue.

But you can address it, at least partly, by getting stronger.

 

[Devils Dominion]

His skating gaffe led to a goal against last night, but his big keep on the PP led to Hall's goal

 

[Nubmer6]

To be honest, yeah it was a skating gaffe, but I don't think he would have made it in time anyway. He noticed the streaking winger too late.

 

[Zippy316]

I still think the hope for Butcher is a Zidlicky type player. Offensive guys who have their issues defensively, but aren't complete liabilities like a M-A Bergeron.

Zidlicky was a perennial 40+ point defender on low-scoring Wild and Predators teams. I think Butcher can hover around 50 points a year in a second pairing role with PP time.

 

[Devils Dominion]

To be honest, yeah it was a skating gaffe, but I don't think he would have made it in time anyway. He noticed the streaking winger too late.

I would have liked to seen Wood pickup Sheary

 

[NJDevs26]

I could definitely see the Zid comparison only with not as good a shot. But I do think he has enough smarts to at least get to that level defensively and he's already showing those kind of chops offensively.

 

[Devils Dominion]

Butch has better hockey sense than Zids

 

[Billdo]

Most assists by a Devils rookie defenseman ever...

 

[Blender]

Butcher was a massive pickup for this team. We pretty much added two 1st round caliber players in the same year, 3 if you count Bratt as well.

Most assists by a Devils rookie defenseman ever...

He's no Jon Merrill though.