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| (above) DU recruit Will Butcher is projected to be a 1st or 2nd Round NHL draft pick next summer |
Hard to believe, with the early season success by the University of Denver hockey team, but the Pioneers might be even better on the blueline next season.
The reason? Incoming 2013 recruit Will Butcher.
Will Butcher, D, USNTDP -- The 5-foot-9.5, 191-pound offensive-minded defenseman offers tremendous speed and intelligence and is instinctual with the puck. A left-handed shot, Butcher has good vision, is calm in transition and can quarterback the power play.
"He's not big, but he has a lot of hockey sense and he's a guy we'll look to for some positive things on our power play," U.S. National Team Development Program coach Don Granato told NHL.com.
NHL scout Josh Deitell watched Butcher play against Wisconsin & Notre Dame two weeks ago. He noted, "Butcher seemed to improve on every shift through the two games. He plays a well-rounded two-way game with good outlet and power-play passing, the ability to rush the puck, and surprising grit along the boards. Against Notre Dame he was downright nasty to play against at times."
NHL scout Josh Deitell watched Butcher play against Wisconsin & Notre Dame two weeks ago. He noted, "Butcher seemed to improve on every shift through the two games. He plays a well-rounded two-way game with good outlet and power-play passing, the ability to rush the puck, and surprising grit along the boards. Against Notre Dame he was downright nasty to play against at times."
Butcher was a member of the team that won a gold medal at the IIHF 2012 World Under-18 Championship during the summer. He also starred on the National U-17 team that captured first at the U-18 Vlad Dzurilla Tournament.
In 46 games with the U-17 team, the University of Denver commit had eight goals and 31 points in 2011-12.
A native of Sun Prairie, Wis., Butcher has two goals and six points in 14 games for the USNTDP Under-18 team this season.
2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 10 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 11 games, 2 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 8 games, 3 goals
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL) - 9 games, 4 goals, 3 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 11 games, 4 goals, 2 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 8 games, 1 goal, 5 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 14 games, 2 goals, 4 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 17 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 9 games, 4 goals, 7 assists
2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 11 games, 2 goals, 3 assists
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 13 games, 2 assists
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 8 games, 1 goal, 1 assist
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 9 games, 2 goals, 2 assists
4 comments:
And then there's this from HF:
"Falling: Will Butcher – Once again really didn't show anything in this game. Draft stock is falling at this point. Smaller Offensive D-man, just hasn’t added any size since last year. Has obvious offensive skill just doesn’t appear to think game well. Forced plays and made some bad decisions."
Interesting.
Some NHL Mock Drafts have Butcher going late in the 1st Round and a recent list doesn't include him in the Top 81 prospects.
Matt Carle & Paul Stastny were pretty far down the lists at this point of their Draft years.
USCHO.com has a few mentions about DU's fast start in their Tuesday Morning Quarterback segment.
http://www.uscho.com/2012/10/30/tmq-teams-standing-out-players-stepping-up/
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