82 replies to this topic

[elias2600]

If he sticks with the NJD roster, having a guy with moves, skills, and release like his is helpful in the shootout. We lost such a great shootout guy in Parise, so there will be a hole to fill there.

[Daniel]

For what it's worth, many of the reactions I've seen from Ottawa fans essentially say that Butler's only effective when he's getting ice time in a top-six role. Good puck control, very good shot, but not really one to work the boards or battle it out. Benefits from a passing center and a winger who can help create space.

If that's the case, and he sticks with the big club, he could be like another Bergfors - hopefully taking advantage of the ice time when it's there by scoring goals and creating chances, trying to work out the other aspects of his game when the time is cut back. Ideally he'd be fine on the third line as a top-9 forward if the third line is not used as a checking line... pair him with Josefson and Clarkson as others have suggested and that's could be a speedy, puck possession unit. Means Sykora or Tedenby slots into the second line in that case, though.

Anything to add on the powerplay? If he has a good shot and puck control, would appear to be useful there.

[SMantzas]

Anything to add on the powerplay? If he has a good shot and puck control, would appear to be useful there.

That what I was thinking. He could replace Sykora on the 2nd unit and man the half-boards

[insanity_gallops]

That what I was thinking. He could replace Sykora on the 2nd unit and man the half-boards

2010-2011 shows he had 1 PPG and 4 PPA in 36 games, so Ottawa clearly used him on one of their units. Nothing from this past season.

Also, something I found interesting - last season in 56 games he was credited with only 34 hits and 15 blocked shots. While I know those are subjective stats and highly inconsistent in terms of being assigned to players, he had 28 hits and 13 blocked shots in only 36 games in 2010-2011. Part of it could be ice time, but I also wonder if he just lost some of his "drive" to really compete hard when it was clear that the coaching staff didn't have total confidence in him.

Hopefully this ordeal will re-energize him and he'll come to camp (and into the season) with a chip on his shoulder.

[Jas0nMacIsaac]

Butler and Clarkson will almost certainly not be on the same line. I could see him on Zajac's right side with Kovalchuk on the left. Kovalchuk finds the late man up the right side a ridiculous number of times and Butler has a tremendous shot.

Kovalchuk - Zajac - Butler
Elias - Henrique - Zubrus
Tedenby/FA/Trade - Josefson - Clarkson

[Jas0nMacIsaac]

He averaged nearly 3 shots per game in the AHL his first pro season and 2 shots per game once he was called up to the NHL. That is pretty good production from the right side.

[Zubie#8]

Butler and Clarkson will almost certainly not be on the same line. I could see him on Zajac's right side with Kovalchuk on the left. Kovalchuk finds the late man up the right side a ridiculous number of times and Butler has a tremendous shot.

Kovalchuk - Zajac - Butler
Elias - Henrique - Zubrus
Tedenby/FA/Trade - Josefson - Clarkson

Sounds wonderful

Edited by Zubie#8, 10 August 2012 - 02:08 PM.

[caron14]

my friend is a sens fans, he said butler have tremendous offensive skills but he cant play as a third liner he need offensive mission, i believe in him

[njd3b1ink]

He has much better hands than Bernier and a real quick release. He's the type that really needs someone to feed him the puck. I'm not sure the Devils have the center that Butler needs to get the most out of him.

If he is on one of the top 3 lines which is likely his center will either be zajac, henrique, elias, or josefson. The reason i have 4it guys there is cause it isnt certain is henrique will go to wing or if elias will. But regardless of who is switched there we know zajac and elias are two great centers who can get the puck to players. We also know that henrique was good enough to get pucks to parise and kovy and play on a top line for the majority of last season. And although JJ hasnt really proved much he was the top candidate coming out of preseason last year to be kovys center. If the coaching staff thought JJ had what it takes to center kovy then he is deff good enough to center Butler. I wouldnt be surprised if Butler becomes a key contributer on our team next season.

[mouse]

Butler and Clarkson will almost certainly not be on the same line. I could see him on Zajac's right side with Kovalchuk on the left. Kovalchuk finds the late man up the right side a ridiculous number of times and Butler has a tremendous shot.

Kovalchuk - Zajac - Butler
Elias - Henrique - Zubrus
Tedenby/FA/Trade - Josefson - Clarkson

Zajac and Kovy briefly made NaPalm look good. If Butler has a shot, they can help him succeed. I also like these lines because Elias gets someone else with some skill to play with. I'm not a fan of Zubs and Clarkson with Elias -- he needs a real scorer to be most effective, and Henrique obviously fills that role. Hopefully Butler can put in 20 or so goals and not drag the line down defensively.

[CarpathianForest]

We Can Do It! Kovalcup 2013!!!!

[nmm90392]

Butler and Clarkson will almost certainly not be on the same line. I could see him on Zajac's right side with Kovalchuk on the left. Kovalchuk finds the late man up the right side a ridiculous number of times and Butler has a tremendous shot.

Kovalchuk - Zajac - Butler
Elias - Henrique - Zubrus
Tedenby/FA/Trade - Josefson - Clarkson

I think the lines look better if you switch butler and zubie

[CarpathianForest]

You need more board work on that top line, I still like Zubrus, Butler, Elias or even Clarkson, Josefson, Butler.

[devlman]

God willing we are in store for typical, horrible, lazy pun headlines like 'the butler did it'. Surprised I didn't read any 'dealing with the devil' headlines after this signing. It's usually a given to get one of those from the sh!tty media outlets we are graced with.

[njd3b1ink]

If he turns out to be a sniper, i might have to start calling him BB Gun! Heyyy Ohhh......

[slasher72]

So to replace Parise, this is what get? Awesome.

[Devil Dan 56]

So to replace Parise, this is what get? Awesome.

The idea that losing Zach Parise means you just sign a player and throw him into Zach's spot is ridiculous. There's no way to directly replace Parise. This is a low risk depth signing with a chance of a high reward.

[Devils Pride 26]

So to replace Parise, this is what get? Awesome.

Don't be a bone head. There is no replacing Parise. There is also not a single negative about this move.

[DaneykoIsGod]

So to replace Parise, this is what get? Awesome.

Lou got his Parise replacement two years ago. His name is Kovalchuk.

[Triumph]

Capgeek says it's a minimum contract - $525,000. Vanderbeek also threw in some Lehman Brothers stock.