(above) DU Alumnus Chris Butler was a surprise addition to the Buffalo Sabres roster last seasonFrom: Buffalo News
by John Vogl
At first glance, it's a little odd to see Chris Butler at the Buffalo Sabres' development camp. The defenseman more than held his own against the world's best players in the NHL last season. It's seems a little unfair for him to spend five days surrounded by 17- and 18-year-olds skating their first laps with professionals.
But the ice isn't where Butler plans to make his best strides this week. Sure, the 22-year-old will absorb the positioning tips and footwork drills like the rest of the prospects. Butler's top learning moments, however, will come off the ice, away from the hundreds of folks who trekked to Niagara University's Dwyer Arena on Tuesday.
Butler plans to be a film critic this week. He's going to spend his days dissecting videos of the NHL's top offensive defensemen, a category he hopes to find himself in someday.
"I can still learn a lot," Butler said. "We've got all my games logged on the computer, and I can watch those. But we get an opportunity to watch a lot of other teams' videos, and I can pick or choose what some of the other teams do, kind of dissect what makes them successful.
"I'm going to watch some of the offensive defensemen, maybe a Mike Green or Niklas Kronwall, watch how they get in the play, how they position themselves on the rush, kind of the holes that they jump into, how they get open, either for an opportunity to shoot or an opportunity to make a pass.
"I think a way I can get better is watching that video. You don't get that stuff when you just turn on a TV back home."
Butler was an unexpected revelation in his first pro season. He was called up to the Sabres midway through the year, and they found it impossible to send him back to the minors. He played 47 games, recording two goals, four points and a plus-11 rating, best among the team's blue-liners.
But while everyone was happy with him, Butler expects more of himself. He was a potent defenseman and power-play cog in college at Denver, and he wants that role in the NHL.
The chance is there. The Sabres lost defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to Montreal in free agency. Spacek was a special teams quarterback and the best point-producer on the blue line. Someone needs to replace his output, and General Manager Darcy Regier has already hinted Butler is the guy to do it.
"Maybe it's an opportunity, maybe I'll get a shot. I don't know," Butler said. "It's tough when you lose a guy like that. Everybody knows how great of a guy he was and how sorely he'll be missed, but we'll see him [six] times next year, and we'll get our shot at him.
"I'd like to become more of an offensive threat. I'd like to learn how to pick and choose my spots better as far as getting up in the rush."
Something that will help Butler's development is a few more votes of confidence from the Sabres' decision makers. He may not look at home surrounded by a bunch of kids this week, but he certainly didn't feel at home in the Buffalo dressing room last season.
"It's tough," he said. "I lived the second half of the season not knowing whether I'd wake up in the morning and they were going to put me on a flight back to Portland [of the American Hockey League]. It's kind of an uneasy feeling every day, but at the same time it kind of pushes you, as well.
"Maybe if I know that I have a secure spot, maybe they expect more of that out of you."
Butler expects the coaching staff to chat with the players at the end of the week. Odds are good they'll say they need him to fill an important role this winter, one that will make him feel at home, in the dressing room and on the score sheet.
But the ice isn't where Butler plans to make his best strides this week. Sure, the 22-year-old will absorb the positioning tips and footwork drills like the rest of the prospects. Butler's top learning moments, however, will come off the ice, away from the hundreds of folks who trekked to Niagara University's Dwyer Arena on Tuesday.
Butler plans to be a film critic this week. He's going to spend his days dissecting videos of the NHL's top offensive defensemen, a category he hopes to find himself in someday.
"I can still learn a lot," Butler said. "We've got all my games logged on the computer, and I can watch those. But we get an opportunity to watch a lot of other teams' videos, and I can pick or choose what some of the other teams do, kind of dissect what makes them successful.
"I'm going to watch some of the offensive defensemen, maybe a Mike Green or Niklas Kronwall, watch how they get in the play, how they position themselves on the rush, kind of the holes that they jump into, how they get open, either for an opportunity to shoot or an opportunity to make a pass.
"I think a way I can get better is watching that video. You don't get that stuff when you just turn on a TV back home."
Butler was an unexpected revelation in his first pro season. He was called up to the Sabres midway through the year, and they found it impossible to send him back to the minors. He played 47 games, recording two goals, four points and a plus-11 rating, best among the team's blue-liners.
But while everyone was happy with him, Butler expects more of himself. He was a potent defenseman and power-play cog in college at Denver, and he wants that role in the NHL.
The chance is there. The Sabres lost defenseman Jaroslav Spacek to Montreal in free agency. Spacek was a special teams quarterback and the best point-producer on the blue line. Someone needs to replace his output, and General Manager Darcy Regier has already hinted Butler is the guy to do it.
"Maybe it's an opportunity, maybe I'll get a shot. I don't know," Butler said. "It's tough when you lose a guy like that. Everybody knows how great of a guy he was and how sorely he'll be missed, but we'll see him [six] times next year, and we'll get our shot at him.
"I'd like to become more of an offensive threat. I'd like to learn how to pick and choose my spots better as far as getting up in the rush."
Something that will help Butler's development is a few more votes of confidence from the Sabres' decision makers. He may not look at home surrounded by a bunch of kids this week, but he certainly didn't feel at home in the Buffalo dressing room last season.
"It's tough," he said. "I lived the second half of the season not knowing whether I'd wake up in the morning and they were going to put me on a flight back to Portland [of the American Hockey League]. It's kind of an uneasy feeling every day, but at the same time it kind of pushes you, as well.
"Maybe if I know that I have a secure spot, maybe they expect more of that out of you."
Butler expects the coaching staff to chat with the players at the end of the week. Odds are good they'll say they need him to fill an important role this winter, one that will make him feel at home, in the dressing room and on the score sheet.
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