Will Butcher To Hit Free Agency

[tom webster]

Yes. Vesey specifically wanted the bright lights big city of NY. Not every free agent wants the same.

This is an important point. Mario Williams wanted a deer in his backyard, some guys come from smaller cities and want to remain that way, some want the opposite, some want to go back home, some want to be as far away as possible.

[Brawndo]

Per Jason Mackey PIT Beat Writer

 

As I understand it, the Penguins are not one of the frontrunners to potentially land college free agent defenseman Will Butcher.

[LGR4GM]

Vesey was never going to sign here. Buffalo just gets used as negotiating leverage. Do you honestly think any in demand U.S. free agent would choose Buffalo over a major city like New York? Giving away that pick was just dumb even if it was just a 3rd rounder.

 

I hope we get Butcher cause he might just be developable by Housley but it's kind of a whatever to me.

 

(developable isn't a word is it? :wallbash: )

This isn't football where 3rd round picks matter. That pick turned into Rem Pitlick, a 5'9" center that has AHL written all over him. It was a low risk high rewards gamble. Bemoaning trading away the 76th pick overall is just silly.

[Norcal]

I knew that dude. We lived a few blocks from each other in the West side of Buffalo. He used to work for the Sabres too and bring home all sorts of sticks!

[pi2000]

wow. a bunch of Bison's memories triggered

[Iron Crotch]

For you millennials, back in the 80's at the old War Memorial, the Butcher used to catch foul balls behind his back when they rolled off of the net behind home plate.

 

Definitely a Buffalo original.

 

RIP Butcher (he passed away last year)

 

 

[Norcal]

For you millennials, back in the 80's at the old War Memorial, the Butcher used to catch foul balls behind his back when they rolled off of the net behind home plate.

 

Definitely a Buffalo original.

 

RIP Butcher (he passed away last year)

He was a show RIP

[Brawndo]

Friedman was on NHL Network today, mentioned the sighting of Butcher with the Sabres Bag in the Airport, but said his decision will probably not come for another week.

 

Also Butcher does play on the right side at times.

[LGR4GM]

His agent is on WGR right meow. 

[WildCard]

Friedman was on NHL Network today, mentioned the sighting of Butcher with the Sabres Bag in the Airport, but said his decision will probably not come for another week.

 

Also Butcher does play on the right side at times.

Housely has to be an alluring coach to play for for a guy like Butcher. Plus Botterill does love him some college players

[WildCard]

@wolfebltd

Butcher's agent did say he understood the development process and didn't necessarily need to start in the #nhl. #sabres

[Georgia Blizzard]

Butcher hasn't been met with the intensity of the Vesey watch from last summer, but, I happen to think within this system and especially with our lack of depth at D, Butcher could be a more valuable signing even though Vesey had a slightly higher prospect rating.

 

If Butcher signs, JBot will have added 4 key pieces to the D corps for next to nothing (sorry, Marcus and Tyler) --- Scandella, Antipin, Beaulieu and Butcher --- add to that depth signing of Tennyson and the hope of Guhle and Housley as coach, we might have a significant upgrade at D (again, from a low starting point)

Edited August 22, 2017 by Georgia Blizzard

[jeffismagic]

I'll take him. Sabres can use all the defensive help they can in the pipeline.

[Doohicksie]

@wolfebltd

Butcher's agent did say he understood the development process and didn't necessarily need to start in the #nhl. #sabres

 

Right.  But he's probably more likely to break into the NHL sooner with the Sabres than with most other organizations.  New GM, new coach, new direction means that there are NHL roster spots to be had sooner rather than later.  Even if he doesn't make the big team right off the bat, there's some likelihood that the Dmen will be shuffled during the season if other new acquisitions disappoint.

[LGR4GM]

Right.  But he's probably more likely to break into the NHL sooner with the Sabres than with most other organizations.  New GM, new coach, new direction means that there are NHL roster spots to be had sooner rather than later.  Even if he doesn't make the big team right off the bat, there's some likelihood that the Dmen will be shuffled during the season if other new acquisitions disappoint.

He's behind at least McCabe and Scandella on the left and almost certainly Baloo. Not a lot of room there for him. Idk, it is a tough sell for me seeing Butcher in blue n gold in the next 2 years. He's going to have to beat out Antipin and Guhle as well. 

[WildCard]

Right.  But he's probably more likely to break into the NHL sooner with the Sabres than with most other organizations.  New GM, new coach, new direction means that there are NHL roster spots to be had sooner rather than later.  Even if he doesn't make the big team right off the bat, there's some likelihood that the Dmen will be shuffled during the season if other new acquisitions disappoint.

He's behind at least McCabe and Scandella on the left and almost certainly Baloo. Not a lot of room there for him. Idk, it is a tough sell for me seeing Butcher in blue n gold in the next 2 years. He's going to have to beat out Antipin and Guhle as well. 

Agree with Liger. We may not have a ton of top talent, but we do have a ton of 3-6 guys, which is exactly what Butcher is

[Doohicksie]

Agree with Liger. We may not have a ton of top talent, but we do have a ton of 3-6 guys, which is exactly what Butcher is

 

Which is exactly why he has a shot.

[WildCard]

Which is exactly why he has a shot.

How so?

[Eleven]

How so?

 

Because there are a lot of LHD between 3 and 6 who have not separated themselves from the pack, so he has the chance to do so.

[WildCard]

Because there are a lot of LHD between 3 and 6 who have not separated themselves from the pack, so he has the chance to do so.

Hmm I pictured it more like this. 

 

Thinking of a queue, if you will. Butcher is, let's say a 6

 

Sabres: 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 7 (Risto, Scandella, McCabe, Bealueiueiuuei, Antipin, Bogosian, Guhle, Gorges)

 

Some other team: 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3, 4, 5 

 

So he's 9th on some other team, and 7th on ours

 

And I just proved myself wrong. Alright then 

[Doohicksie]

He's one of several 3-6 guys.  Who's to say that come training camp, he makes a big impression and displaces one of them?  Or becomes the first call-up when someone gets injured? 

 

Also, we don't know how the roster will be handled.  GMTM seemed to greatly prefer "his" guys.  DD liked veteran players.  We don't know how JBot will prioritize the players he's acquired. Training camp could be full fledged shoot-out, and the best Dmen make the team, seniority be damned.  We don't know exactly what the defensive scheme will be, and how the different players will fit, with respect to hockey smarts, physicality, mobility, offensive upside.  In the new system, almost no one is an incumbent.  Grab a bunch of assets and play the best ones.  It seems like that's how JBot found obscure, longshot players with Pittsburgh.  There's two steps to that process:  One is bringing in a large pool of potential players.  The second step to recognize and promote the ones who will best execute the system.  Since we don't know what the system looks like yet, who's to say Antipin will be better in it than Butcher?  Antipin says he will go back to Russia if he doesn't make the NHL squad, but if he's not good enough to beat out Butcher, does JBot care?

Because there are a lot of LHD between 3 and 6 who have not separated themselves from the pack, so he has the chance to do so.

 

Yeah.  What he said.

[Brawndo]

From Botterill today

 

https://twitter.com/danfetes/status/900058859099828224

[WildCard]

From Botterill today

 

https://twitter.com/danfetes/status/900058859099828224

@danfetes

Botterill also smiled when he said "We've got a few different sales pitches for Will [butcher]" #Sabres

 

 

Not trying to step on your toes with these quotes Brawndo, just figure it's easy for the lazier ones or on mobile. 

[Doohicksie]

I mean, when you think about it, who do you think is superior?  Antipin or Butcher?  Antipin is two years older, but a little smaller.  Both are considered top players from their most recent leagues, both of which are below the level of the NHL.  While Antipin is older and more experienced, the North American game will be new to him.  Then again, it's a big step from college to the NHL and only the best can do it easily.  Oh wait, "Hobey Baker winner" == best college player.  If it comes down to Antipin versus Butcher, it may be quite a dogfight.

Which is exactly what I hope to see.  Not players in a holding pattern waiting for the team to get better, but players trying to climb over each other on the roster to actively make the team better.

[Thorner]

LHD RHD

 

Scandella Ristolainen

McCabe Bogosian

Beaulieu Antipin

Butcher Fedun

Guhle Borgen

 

--

 

Guhle is the better prospect, but gave the nod on the depth chart to Butcher due to him being a couple years older.

 

Butcher's upside is higher than his depth chart counterpart on the other side (Fedun), so as others have said, it'd be a nice depth signing should it come to pass.

 

Also, our RHD side is not awesome.