Ottawa Senators sign Bobby Butler to two-year, one-way contract –NHL offseason Update
Ottawa Senators re-signed 24-year-old right winger, Bobby Butler, to a two-year, one-way contract on Thursday, which guarantees him a season long position on their roster and not on their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate club, Binghamton Senators.
The financial terms and conditions of Butler’s pure National Hockey League (NHL) contract were not disclosed while Ottawa's assistant general manager, Tim Murray, made the announcement.
“This is great for the organization and it’s great for him”, said Senators' assistant GM, Tim Murray. “He’s a pure goal scorer. He’s got a special ability and that’s to score goals”.
Butler will now be entering his third consecutive season with Ottawa Senators in the major league, but it will be his first chance at playing all 82 games.
Picked up from the minor leagues, Butler only played two games in the 2009-2010 season, which were his first, finishing without a single point.
The following season, Butler played in 36 matchups and impressed the management by scoring 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists).
His return to the minor league team, Binghamton, eventually led them to winning the Calder Cup Finals against Houston Aeros.
Signing on with Ottawa gave him the chance to breathe easily, since he had been worried where he would be playing next.
“It’s a weight off my shoulders”, Butler said. “Now I can just come up and be confident, just be ready to play and not worry if I’m getting shut down or whatnot. Just come and play like I was toward the end of the year, which is with some confidence and
having fun”.
Butler added that it was always his along with his parent’s aspiration for him to make it into the major leagues, which has finally come true.
According to Ottawa team management, Butler will eventually grow and become one of the teams’ key contributors.
The decision did not come as a surprise to most since Senators had announced their plan for reenergising and giving the team a facelift before the new season begins.
Bobby Butler will now have the chance to further impress the team when he enters training camp in September, a month before the season begins.
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