Butler delivers on top line
The resurgence of Bobby Butler has added a fair share of drama to the Ottawa Senators’ chase for a playoff spot and to the upcoming National Hockey League trade deadline.
SUNRISE, Florida • The resurgence of Bobby Butler has added a fair share of drama to the Ottawa Senators’ chase for a playoff spot and to the upcoming National Hockey League trade deadline.
Only a week ago, Butler was on the sidelines, waiting for any opportunity to get back into the Senators’ lineup. He had been a healthy scratch for three straight games and had been held without a point in the eight previous games he had played.
In his first 41 games of the season, he had scored only five goals and four assists, a major disappointment for a player who was expected to be a major contributor to the club’s offence.
Accordingly, his name has surfaced repeatedly in trade talks in advance of the Feb. 27 trade deadline, along with defencemen Brian Lee and American Hockey League defenceman Patrick Wiercioch.
When Senators coach Paul MacLean inserted Butler onto the top line alongside Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek a week ago against the Nashville Predators, more than a few observers believed it was part of an effort by the organization to showcase him for other teams.
But a funny thing has happened since. Butler has registered a goal and five assists in his four games back on the top line following Wednesday’s 6-2 win against the Panthers in Florida, and has looked energized following his extended absence. If he keeps producing the points, the top line has an additional scoring threat. Or, alternatively, GM Bryan Murray could receive a bigger return if he decided to deal him.
Butler insists he’s not getting caught up in the offensive surge, claiming he’s only trying to “go game by game right now.”
The timing couldn’t be better. His father, John, is along for the ride as part of the current fathers’ trip. Still, Butler joked that his father would only choose to talk about a moment the Senator would rather forget during Tuesday’s 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, when the toe of his skate hit soft ice and he went down, negating a 2-on-1 rush.
“He might chirp me a little bit for falling on the ice, but he’s happy and excited,” Butler said. “He loves all this.”
Butler’s teammates are also ecstatic at the rebound in his game.
“It’s great for him personally,” said Spezza, who played a major role in helping showcase Butler’s talents last season, when Butler arrived from Binghamton of the AHL. “He has worked really hard, and now to get rewarded offensively is great for him.
“It’s also great for the team because it gives us more depth. It’s a testament to the work he did when he wasn’t playing very much, and the time he put on the (stationary) bike and in (extra) practice. His legs are real good right now.”
Coach Paul MacLean also says Butler is showing more patience.
“He’s finding the puck and making plays with it,” MacLean said.
“Earlier in the year, at times he was fighting the puck a little bit and would just get rid of it, but now he seems to be wanting to hang on to it and having some confidence. He’s trying to play with the puck.”
SPECIAL TREAT FOR DADS
MacLean provided the fathers with an added bonus before Tuesday’s game against Tampa Bay — a first-class seat to his pregame speech and to the Senators’ game-day preparations.
“I just thought it was a great opportunity for the Dads to see what their sons have to go through to get prepared for a game and the detail that goes into it,” he said.
“It’s not just putting on your skates and taping your sticks, and going out to play.”
SHAVING FOR THE CAUSE
Even thousands of kilometres from home, Erik Gudbranson continues to raise funds and awareness for cancer research.
Gudbranson, the Florida Panthers’ rookie defenceman and Ottawa native, received a buzz cut along with teammate Mike Weaver on Monday, raising $2,600 for pediatric cancer research. The Panthers kicked in another $5,000.
One of Gudbranson’s younger brothers, Dennis, previously battled leukemia.
Erik Gudbranson has gradually worked his way into the regular rotation on the Panthers’ defence this season.
“I wouldn’t say it has been seamless, because as a young defenceman, it’s tough to get used to the game and learning new stuff, but now it’s starting to feel more comfortable,” he said.
Interesting angle on the Bobby Butler ‘resurgence’. This piece will look fabulous framed on a wall in his parents’ house. But this is a non-story story.
The kid scores goals, that’s just what he does. He’s a poor man’s Tyler Seguin – there are only a handful of players in the league who can shoot the puck better. But, like 99% of NHL scorers, he needs to be rolling with a setup guy to be effective, and to get quality minutes. He’s not gonna put up points playing 7:00/game with Konopka (13 assists in 200+ NHL games). It’s just not gonna happen.
In his first year as a pro (and his first year playing NHL-style hockey, having graduated from U.S. university in 2010), Butler scored 45 goals last year in 106 games, shuffling between Bingo and Ottawa, playing mostly with Locke and Spezza, two proven and gifted playmakers. Yes, one could argue that Happy Gilmore would put up good numbers playing with those two guys, but I bet if you asked Locke and Spezza, they’d tell you that their games elevate when they have options on the ice, and when the opposition needs to pay serious attention to more than just one or two guys.
With the Sens legitimately vying for a playoff spot, few can argue with MacLean’s decisions this year. Butler was the odd man out for awhile, and no one wanted to mess with a winning formula. But after a 3-game stint that produced only 2 goals, it seemed like the timing was right to shake things up a bit and get Butler minutes with skill guys, and it seems like the plan is working so far. But, let’s be clear — it’s not a resurgence. Butler’s been on the outside looking in most of this year, and now is just back to doing his thing.
[Butler’s chops: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeUnQWBcSxI&feature=related
I generally agree. But since he was sidelined for 3 games, I agree with the coach that he is trying to do more with the puck instead of just dumping it back to a teammate as soon as he sees a check coming. He has actually started to win a few battles along the boards too, which has been a real weakness in his game and a cycle killer.
I like Butler, but Colin Greening did pretty well with Spezza and Michalek too. And he’s faster and bigger.
So don’t let up Bobby, or you’ll be back in the booth before you know it.
I would like to see Foligno at centre now and then. His abilities are being wasted on wing. If we have no room here, maybe trade him to the Buds for a top pick? I hear they are looking for centres.
I like this kid, keep him, he will produce. Condra and Greening are also playing great hockey but they don’t get a whole lot of points. Its not easy to score in the NHL. Butler plays well for the majority of the time. Please keep him. Our oncertain key player is Peter Regin, he can probably be dealt. I think you just need to score on the D, cause you have an uncertain future of Kuba, Gonchar, even though they are playing well at the moment. P.S. too bad you didnt get Micheal Ryder when he was available, he’s a 20goal scorer