Butcher’s Block: Penguins Sign Former Devils D-Man
The Penguins seem keen on cornering the market on small, puck-moving, ex-Devils defensemen.
In a somewhat intriguing add, they signed 28-year-old Will Butcher to a two-way contract yesterday that pays $775,000 at the NHL level ($425,000 in the AHL).
Kinda wish we’d signed Garth Butcher, a snarling defenseman who patrolled the blueline for several teams back in the 1980s and ‘90s instead, but since he’s 60-years-old that probably wouldn’t work out too well.
Butcher (Will) was actually a player of significant promise only a few short years ago. After leading the University of Denver to the NCAA Championship and garnering the Hobey Baker Award his senior year, he was pursued by a number of NHL teams before signing with Ray Shero and New Jersey.
Following a splashy three-assist debut against Colorado (the team that drafted him back in 2013), Butcher enjoyed a strong rookie season in 2017-18, piling up 44 points (including five goals) to earn a spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team.
Shades of Ty Smith.
Like Smith, Butcher’s star gradually began to wane. His production dipped to 30 points the following season (4+26) and 21 points in 56 games in ’19-20.