GARTH'S CORNER: Butcher To Buffalo?

From all I've heard he's still a few years away from being an effective NHL player.

From all I've heard he's still a few years away from being an effective NHL player.
- Larsson_fan

Still never hurts to add a guy like that to your organization. I for one will be happy if he signs.

"In 2016-17, Butcher set career personal best for points (37) and games played (42). Butcher scored 7 goals and 37 assists last season."

Wrong . . . and wrong.

2016-17 Univ. of Denver NCAA 43 games 7 goals 30 assists

But hey, why bother getting even the simplest facts right?

From all I've heard he's still a few years away from being an effective NHL player.
- Larsson_fan

From all I've heard he's a second pairing guy right now if he plays for New Jersey. But maybe that's us.

From all I've heard he's still a few years away from being an effective NHL player.
- Larsson_fan

Says the man who's team isn't in the Butcher conversation, quoting the man who's team was spurned by Butcher cuz they were too stupid not to give him a contract after his junior year.

The fleet-footed defenseman just completed his four-year obligation at the University of Denver .
- Garth

Fleet-footed?

I was under the impression Cody Franson could teach him a thing or two about foot speed.

While I certainly hope this proves to be the case... I remember being given similar items on my recruitment trips for college. I have to imagine that Butcher has received hats and bags and more from every team he chooses to visit. Again, I would be VERY happy to see the Sabres add Butcher... but I hardly believe a bag's logo he just so happens to be carrying on his way home means it is a done deal by any means. But nothing wrong with a little hope and the bag he decided to use during his travels didn't have any other logo on it... so Let's Go Buffalo!

"In 2016-17, Butcher set career personal best for points (37) and games played (42). Butcher scored 7 goals and 37 assists last season."

Wrong . . . and wrong.

2016-17 Univ. of Denver NCAA 43 games 7 goals 30 assists

But hey, why bother getting even the simplest facts right?
- courier

Did you really google his stats so you could find a mistake that you could give a backhanded correction?

Did you really google his stats so you could find a mistake that you could give a backhanded correction?
- doppelthat

Well, it's a Garf blog so you can pretty much just assume that everything is incorrect and then work from there...

Did you really google his stats so you could find a mistake that you could give a backhanded correction?
- doppelthat

Likely didnt have to use google. Basic math says 7 + 37 does not equal 37.

Fleet-footed?

I was under the impression Cody Franson could teach him a thing or two about foot speed.
- Wetbandit1

he has never watched him, just makes the assumption bc hes small hes fast. He isn't a good skater, I think Garth is the only one that calls him a smooth skater

How many restraining orders are you up to now?

Says the man who's team isn't in the Butcher conversation, quoting the man who's team was spurned by Butcher cuz they were too stupid not to give him a contract after his junior year.
- turbo044

he didn't do anything to deserve an ELC after his junior year....he looked brutal back then, especially in Dev camp

First of all, he's not fleet footed. He's a good skater, but doesn't have great speed. He's average at best.

Secondly, every team that is courting players gives them equipment. Things like hat's, hoodies, t-shirts, ect. However, I've NEVER heard of a player receiving an equipment bag. Maybe he's using to haul around his belongings. Or maybe he's trying to use it as leverage (even though he can only receive an ELC).

Despite his errors and omission, Garth may actually have something here. The problem is, Garth has absolutely no shame whatsoever, so he has no problem throwing darts until he hits a bullseye. In this case, the bull would be Butcher. If this had come from a reputable source, I would be extremely confident the Sabres sign him.

Either way, I certainly won't lose sleep over his decision. At first I was extremely excited about the possibility of signing him, but as I've done more research it seems like he is just another over-hyped college player. He doesn't cost anything, so obviously it's worth taking a shot at the young man; but like I said, I'm just not very impressed from all the data I've gathered. I'm not saying he will or will not be a good NHL player. I'm simply saying I'm not going to be mad or disappointed if he signs somewhere else. More like it will just feel good that someone actually chooses Buffalo.

he has never watched him, just makes the assumption bc hes small hes fast. He isn't a good skater, I think Garth is the only one that calls him a smooth skater
- DDM-Coga

He is a very smooth skater. There is a difference between being fast and a good skater. Wayne Gretzky was definitely not fleet of foot, but he was a very good, 'smooth" skater. Same for a lot of players.

Butcher is not very fast on his skates, but he's very smooth on his edges and always has his head up. Plus he makes good decisions and crisp passes going full speed. That's all part of being a good skater.

This is coming from Kris Baker, too. For those of you who aren't aware of who he is - he's a Sabres beat reporter with his expertise being Amature scouting.

He is a very smooth skater. There is a difference between being fast and a good skater. Wayne Gretzky was definitely not fleet of foot, but he was a very good, 'smooth" skater. Same for a lot of players.

Butcher is not very fast on his skates, but he's very smooth on his edges and always has his head up. Plus he makes good decisions and crisp passes going full speed. That's all part of being a good skater.

This is coming from Kris Baker, too. For those of you who aren't aware of who he is - he's a Sabres beat reporter with his expertise being Amature scouting.
- Dukey3030

I wouldnt call him a smooth skater though, but thats just IMO and we can play semantics of definition of skating style, but really doesnt matter at this point. Hes smart, and if he can improve his skating he has a shot of being an every day NHLer.

It just comes down to that, can he over come his skating ability with his hockey IQ playing against the fastest and biggest bodies this sport has to offer. If not he is going to be get dominated in his own end and with out the speed and gifted offensive ability to make up for that, he wont last long before similar skating bigger body Dmen (especially if they have a big shot) jump over him in the depth charts

I do think he can overcome a lot of these issues to become a full time NHLer but I wont lose sleep over butcher signing with another team. He would have had a lot of work to jump up the Avs depth chart

Avs depth chart ?
I thought he opted out due to fear of being put in top pair

I wouldnt call him a smooth skater though, but thats just IMO and we can play semantics of definition of skating style, but really doesnt matter at this point. Hes smart, and if he can improve his skating he has a shot of being an every day NHLer.

It just comes down to that, can he over come his skating ability with his hockey IQ playing against the fastest and biggest bodies this sport has to offer. If not he is going to be get dominated in his own end and with out the speed and gifted offensive ability to make up for that, he wont last long before similar skating bigger body Dmen (especially if they have a big shot) jump over him in the depth charts

I do think he can overcome a lot of these issues to become a full time NHLer but I wont lose sleep over butcher signing with another team. He would have had a lot of work to jump up the Avs depth chart
- DDM-Coga

Avs depth chart ?
I thought he opted out due to fear of being put in top pair
- mandrinhawk1

Zads EJ
Barberio Barrie
Mironov Lindholm
Siemens

Thats the NHL roster...AHL roster

Bigras Meloche
Boikov Warsofsky
(X) Graham/Geertsen

Bolded guys are Avs draft picks for reference (besides Barrie, he isn't going to be dethroned by Butcher) Thats where he would slot in, He would have to jump up 4 or 5 spots on the depth chart to see NHL time, and thats before Makar or Timmins sign their ELCs, add in a pending Duchene for D trade, butcher would just be pushed further and further down unless he tears up the AHL right out of the gate, would be a big climb for him currently

Sakic somewhat hinted at the Avs going to be aggressive with the Waiver wire for the 1st month bc they have the ability to do so. A team like vegas might have to expose Reinhart or Merrill to waivers with what they have sitting for Dmen right now. Claim a guy like Reinhart, again adds to the uphill battle for him on the Avs

Avs depth chart ?
I thought he opted out due to fear of being put in top pair
- mandrinhawk1

Yeah its not like the Avs have a deep and rich Blueline like the Sabres...

I said it after the O'Reiily trade and I'll say it again: the Avs are a dumpster fire

I never claimed that just cause I like sabres doesnt mean im blind

Yeah its not like the Avs have a deep and rich Blueline like the Sabres...
- Larsson_fan

Zads ?

Zads EJ
Barberio Barrie
Mironov Lindholm
Siemens

Thats the NHL roster...AHL roster

Bigras Meloche
Boikov Warsofsky
(X) Graham/Geertsen

Bolded guys are Avs draft picks for reference (besides Barrie, he isn't going to be dethroned by Butcher) Thats where he would slot in, He would have to jump up 4 or 5 spots on the depth chart to see NHL time, and thats before Makar or Timmins sign their ELCs, add in a pending Duchene for D trade, butcher would just be pushed further and further down unless he tears up the AHL right out of the gate, would be a big climb for him currently

Sakic somewhat hinted at the Avs going to be aggressive with the Waiver wire for the 1st month bc they have the ability to do so. A team like vegas might have to expose Reinhart or Merrill to waivers with what they have sitting for Dmen right now. Claim a guy like Reinhart, again adds to the uphill battle for him on the Avs
- DDM-Coga

Zads ?
- mandrinhawk1

Zadorov...come on hes not dead to you guys yet