Will Bobby Butler's AHL Performance Get Him Back into Primetime Hockey Post Lockout? -NHL Special
Many might not consider it, but former Ottawa Senators right winger Bobby Butler definitely has a lot of potential but he unfortunately failed to prove that with the team he kicked off his career with in the National Hockey League (NHL) back in 2009.
The 25-year-old managed to play in three seasons with the Senators from 2009 till the fresh lockout which has gone way too long now, but is back to working his way up the ladder as he has been turning heads in the American Hockey League (AHL).
This lockout, without a doubt, has been a blessing in disguise for Bobby Butler and even if he does not know it, but the New Jersey Devils are certainly keeping sight of his performance with their minor league affiliates, the Albany Devils. It is the time
for him to shine and in the AHL, he is one of the biggest performers right now.
He was also named the AHL Player of the Week earlier in December and did so by potting six goals and one assist in just three games played along with a game-winning goal that improved the Devils position in the rankings.
Originally, Butler played for the University of New Hampshire before being picked up by the Ottawa Senators in 2009, but was not drafted to the major league. His first season (2009-2010) had him play in just two games, with the rest back in New Hampshire.
The second followed with a more major performance as the young forward potted 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists) in 36 games and played the remaining part of the season with their minor league affiliates, the Binghamton Senators.
He shined with the Senators AHL club by registering 33 points (22 goals, 11 assists) in 47 games played, and was handed down a much bigger role with the Ottawa major league franchise the following hockey year by playing in 56 games, but failed to impress
with just 16 points, and a drop in goal scoring with six in the net.
Ottawa was forced to play the native of Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States, on waivers and eventually bought out the remainder of his two-year contract, which had a worth of $2.1 million for two years.
Luckily, he managed to stay locked on with an NHL club as the New Jersey Devils decided to give him another chance by signing him on to a one-year, $525,000 deal and are now testing his capabilities in the AHL.
Until the work stoppage comes to an end, it will be interesting to see how Bobby Butler continues to perform and whether it will be enough for the New Jersey Devils consider to play him at the primetime level when the time comes.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
Tags: