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

[Buck Dancer]

Ownership probably told Fitz…

"I’m giving you the green light for Hamilton but we have to shed Butcher’s deal".

"Ok, I’m on it!!!"

 

[MartyOwns]

I know it’s unpopular but I always liked Butcher. Hopefully he gets a chance to play in Buffalo since he wasn’t getting it here.

same. he's not bad at all, he just needs the right defensive partner. i'm not sure he'll find that in buffalo, but i hope he at least gets to play.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

same. he's not bad at all, he just needs the right defensive partner. i'm not sure he'll find that in buffalo, but i hope he at least gets to play.

You could time his laps with a calendar. Acceleration - 53 Speed - 62

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Don’t they have a bajillion 4ths next year? All good. Just keep the 2nds for the children for Pete’s sake. Wish Will luck, good egg, never bitched.

 

[TF1970]

I’m fine with this. Butcher didn’t fit into plans and it’s a solid on management for finding a home for him to play regularly (albeit giving a late pick to shed his money). Not a fan of his game since that dynamite rookie year aside from the PP and ozone work in general. But he seems like an awesome person. League adapts to guys as they become familiar which could definitely be what happened with him.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I really hate giving away 5th round picks but....!

At least it’s not a second!

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

remember- we have an extra 5th in 2022 from the Kinkaid trade many moons ago, so we still have one in that round.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I really hate giving away 5th round picks but....!

remember- we have an extra 5th in 2022 from the Kinkaid trade many moons ago, so we still have one in that round.

See? This guy knows what’s up. My man.

 

[GeNeXt]

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.

He played 50% of this season despite being in a similar spot. Also, he's an adult making $3 million to play a game. Poor him if he has to sit in the press box a lot of nights. Is the Buffalo situation that much better for him to get a shot.. assuming Power plays in the NHL this year. I don't know if he has a clear cut path to log games there either.

 

[The 29th Pick]

See? This guy knows what’s up. My man.

I was being sarcastic with the 5th round thing!

 

[Patrik26]

FWIW, my sweetheart has both a signed Lovejoy and signed Butcher jersey. She also has a signed
Bratt.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I was being sarcastic with the 5th round thing!

You know, I don’t know anymore with you. We kept you around as a pick when we should’ve forfeited and now the sarcasm…

 

[The 29th Pick]

You know, I don’t know anymore with you. We kept you around as a pick when we should’ve forfeited and now the sarcasm…

I have a no trade clause, sorry I'll be here a while

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

I have a no trade clause, sorry I'll be here a while

That’s fine, you’re my boy, just like Blue but not dead, at least I don’t think so. Are you dead?

 

[The 29th Pick]

That’s fine, you’re my boy, just like Blue but not dead, at least I don’t think so. Are you dead?

half dead/half drunk

 

[devsfan8]

This might just be because Fitz wants to bring back Murray on a 1 or 2 year deal to slot to the left of Subban on the 3rd pairing. He said he planned to discuss a contract with him. And Murray stayed healthy and held his own.

There is a log jam on LD in this case with Bahl and Siegenthaler as well. Butcher was a solid soldier for us but no longer a fit. He was scarched often last season on a bad team and I do not think Ruff was high on him.

 

[Triumph]

He played 50% of this season despite being in a similar spot.

He played 50% of the season where the Devils had basically nothing behind him in the system.

Also, he's an adult making $3 million to play a game. Poor him if he has to sit in the press box a lot of nights.

Part of the premise of professional sports is that while players are compensated incredibly well relative to the average person, they also need to be as close to optimal performance at all times, which is considerably more difficult than it sounds. So yes, while big picture wise, making millions of dollars to play a game seems psychologically 'easy', I think it is much less easy to train 100% and keep yourself 100% mentally active when you know that your spot on the team is already taken and you're just waiting for an injury to get into a game.

If Butcher were in his mid 30s and his career were winding down, I'd say, yeah, sure, put him on the bench. He's not, he turns 27 next year - he should be playing pro hockey for another 5 years at least.

Is the Buffalo situation that much better for him to get a shot.. assuming Power plays in the NHL this year. I don't know if he has a clear cut path to log games there either.

Butcher is not a power play specialist, his best work was always done at ES. He'll probably play on PP2 there, but he will sink or swim based on his 5v5 play.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

half dead/half drunk

Perfect! I have another one for me.

 

[GeNeXt]

He played 50% of the season where the Devils had basically nothing behind him in the system.





Part of the premise of professional sports is that while players are compensated incredibly well relative to the average person, they also need to be as close to optimal performance at all times, which is considerably more difficult than it sounds. So yes, while big picture wise, making millions of dollars to play a game seems psychologically 'easy', I think it is much less easy to train 100% and keep yourself 100% mentally active when you know that your spot on the team is already taken and you're just waiting for an injury to get into a game.

If Butcher were in his mid 30s and his career were winding down, I'd say, yeah, sure, put him on the bench. He's not, he turns 27 next year - he should be playing pro hockey for another 5 years at least.



Butcher is not a power play specialist, his best work was always done at ES. He'll probably play on PP2 there, but he will sink or swim based on his 5v5 play.

I don't think the left side of our defence was that different last season. We added Graves and most likely subtracted Kulikov and Murray (for now). This trade could be indicative of them wanting to bring Kulikov or Murray back, I guess. I just would feel better with Butcher being the 7th D than Bahl or some other kid who may need AHL seasoning. For that reason, I'd imagine the team has another LD in their sights.

I get the mental part, but every season there are many similar aged defencemen who suffer the same fate. It's just the business this is. I know Siegenthaler was one with WSH- he requested a trade, but the Caps still got a decent return. Now, I imagine this trade was made preemptively to adjust for another signing or move, which makes more sense. But if not, it would've been wiser to hold Butcher and maybe try to net an asset, without retaining salary, when the season starts and injuries occur to other teams, or possibly our own (hopefully not) . Once again, I need to reserve my judgement on this deal until we see what else Fitz may have in place, but if no other move is made to acquire a veteran LD, this trade likely seems pointless.

 

[newjerseydamo]

Feels like a trade you make when the player requests one.

 

[njdevils1982]

wanted butcher gone ….but to give a 5th to the slugs………f*** off fitz

 

[AfroThunder396]

Butcher has 3 PP points in over +100 PP minutes over the past two seasons. He can play PP2 if you need him to but he should be no means be considered a PP specialist.

 

[TheUnseenHand]

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.

Damn we were so loud in the stands that night. What a blast that was to see live.

 

[Hasbro]

More good news. I hated watching him, and think we can definitely find a better 7D elsewhere.

Go Breakers!

 

[Triumph]

I don't think the left side of our defence was that different last season. We added Graves and most likely subtracted Kulikov and Murray (for now). This trade could be indicative of them wanting to bring Kulikov or Murray back, I guess. I just would feel better with Butcher being the 7th D than Bahl or some other kid who may need AHL seasoning. For that reason, I'd imagine the team has another LD in their sights.

I get the mental part, but every season there are many similar aged defencemen who suffer the same fate. It's just the business this is. I know Siegenthaler was one with WSH- he requested a trade, but the Caps still got a decent return. Now, I imagine this trade was made preemptively to adjust for another signing or move, which makes more sense. But if not, it would've been wiser to hold Butcher and maybe try to net an asset, without retaining salary, when the season starts and injuries occur to other teams, or possibly our own (hopefully not) . Once again, I need to reserve my judgement on this deal until we see what else Fitz may have in place, but if no other move is made to acquire a veteran LD, this trade likely seems pointless.

The crucial difference between Siegenthaler and Butcher is their salary - Siegenthaler's was low, Butcher's is not.

There's no way the Devils could've gotten an asset for Butcher. He makes too much money. The league is going to be capped out when play starts. How often do D with that kind of AAV move early in the season, even in a normal year? Now imagine next year when 10 teams start the season with $0 money under the cap.

I assume the team is going to sign a 7th D somewhere, or I could see them trading for one. Butcher as 7th D was just a bad idea, I'm glad they didn't repeat it.