Confirmed with Link: Will Butcher and a 5th to BUF for future considerations

[Darkauron]

Good. He was never going to play for us again anyway

 

[NJDevs26]

I'm sure ownership is happy to dump his 4.1 mil salary this season if he wasn't going to be used.

Particularly after forking over a huge signing bonus check to Dougie

 

[Triumph]

I would've kept Butcher around just for the sake if Ty Smith has a rough go at times, hits a sophomore slump or gets injured..

It's not NHL21 or whatever they're up to now. Butcher's a real player whose name was written into the lineup every night his first 3 years here. It is a huge challenge to go from that to being a part-time player, especially at Will's age. I wish him the best in Buffalo but unfortunately given what they're doing up there I don't really know how it can go well for him.

 

[Blender]

so with Butcher gone, we're back under the floor even WITH Hamilton and Bernier now lmao

I know they will hit it with the Sharangovich/Kuokkanen signings, but still hilarious

Have to bank that Hughes money.

 

[FooteBahl]

We’re still a million under the cap floor

 

[Mgd31]

Is this just a favor?

 

[LeedsMonster]

Betting this is to clear room for Tanks contract

 

[The Devil In I]

Is this just a favor?

For Butcher yea. It's good business. Signing a 24 year old for 3 years and then largely scratching him for the last 2 years of that deal doesn't look good to other players around the league.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

 

[Dirty Dog]

Congrats on Dougie! Could you give this Sabres fan a run down on Butcher? What role he should or shouldn’t play in?

left side?

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

Congrats on Dougie! Could you give this Sabres fan a run down on Butcher? What role he should or shouldn’t play in?

left side?

I believe he has played both for us, but yes should be left side

To be honest, he just cannot skate. He has decent enough offensive instincts, but realistically should not be anything more than a 3rd pairing, 2nd PP guy

 

[Forge]

LOL what? Why ?

 

[Emperoreddy]

while I think this is fair, my question is why? 1 year left and they don't need the cap space

I guess just doing him a favor sort of?

Maybe there is a bit of an internal cap? Or yeah not wanting to have an unhappy player in the locker room who you don't intend to use.

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

Congrats on Dougie! Could you give this Sabres fan a run down on Butcher? What role he should or shouldn’t play in?

left side?

He was sensational as a rookie next to Ben Lovejoy in a sheltered 3rd pairing role. I think he could have some success in that role again. He just can’t skate and is very weak. But I think he can still make it in the NHL.

 

[The 29th Pick]

 

[Better Call Sal]

Congrats on Dougie! Could you give this Sabres fan a run down on Butcher? What role he should or shouldn’t play in?

left side?

I like Butch a lot because he is a very smart player. His skating is by far his biggest weakness. We obviously hoped it would have improved as he gained more responsibility, but it just never did. He is a very solid PP QB in my opinion and I think with the right partner and PP time, he can rebound to his rookie form.

 

[Vitto79]

Good old cap dump

 

[NJDevs26]

This makes it more random although I guess that’s why we’re giving up a 5 instead of a 4, and it’s not like we can carry over our retention slot till next season.

 

[Forge]

This is stupid

 

[Better Call Sal]

Sad to see it end this way, but I'll always remember this absolute dart that helped us get our only playoff win in almost a decade. Best of luck to Butch, I hope he rebounds and has a lengthy career. He's a good dude.

 

[Darkauron]

This is stupid

Nah. He'd be the 7th D depth wise. No point in keeping him then. Bahl others are much better options

 

[RangerDoggo]

This is an obvious “Fitz is ready for one more move” trade if there ever was one. Godspeed, Will- you’re going to f***ing hate it up in Buffalo.

 

[Forge]

Nah. He'd be the 7th D depth wise. No point in keeping him then. Bahl others are much better options

There's no incentive to pay to dump him, especially if retaining.

 

[Billdo]

Woof... retaining on that deal and giving up an asset is strange.

 

[Whaddagoal]

Well, we don't have to talk about his footspeed anymore and the "but he generates production" when people complain about his footspeed.

Can't believe we had to give up so much to get him out of here.... feels a little bad for everyone on NJ side, including Butcher.

Good luck in Buffalo!