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Chris Butler (ice hockey)

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Chris Butler
Butler with the Calgary Flames in 2011
Born (1986-10-27) October 27, 1986 (age 38)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 203 lb (92 kg; 14 st 7 lb)
Position Defense
Shot Left
Played for Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
St. Louis Blues
National team  United States
NHL draft 96th overall, 2005
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2008–2019

Chris Butler (born October 27, 1986) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Buffalo Sabres, Calgary Flames and hometown club, St. Louis Blues. Butler was a fourth round selection of the Sabres, chosen 96th overall at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. He then played three seasons at the University of Denver before turning professional in 2008.

Early life

Butler grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri, playing both hockey and baseball. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School (Missouri) for high school. His father Doug was also a professional hockey player, drafted by the NHL's Boston Bruins and the Calgary Cowboys of the World Hockey Association in 1977,[1] and played parts of three seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL).[2] Doug coached his son as the younger Butler grew up. Chris's mother, Martha, was also an athlete who played field hockey while she attended college in St. Louis.[3]

Playing career

Junior and college

Butler played high school hockey in St. Louis for Chaminade College Prep., one season in Junior B followed by two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL).[1] He led the Musketeers with a +36 plus-minus rating in 2004–05, played in the league's All-Star Game and was named to the first All-Star team following the season.[4] He was then selected by the Buffalo Sabres, 96th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft but first committed to attend and play hockey at the University of Denver.[3]

In his first season with the Denver Pioneers, Butler was selected to join the United States junior team at the 2006 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. He played four games for the fourth place Americans.[5] Butler spent three seasons with the Pioneers, scoring 20 goals and 66 points in that time.[4] He was the team's assistant captain in 2007–08 and was considered the team's top defenseman while being named an All-American.[3] Butler left the Pioneers following his junior season, signing an entry-level contract with the Sabres.[6]

Professional

Butler began the 2008–09 season with the Sabres' AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates. He appeared in 27 games for the Pirates and scored 12 points when he was recalled to Buffalo on December 18, 2008.[4] He made his NHL debut the following night against the Los Angeles Kings, a 5–0 victory in which he scored his first NHL point with an assist on a goal by Adam Mair.[7] He scored his first goal on March 20, 2009, against Martin Biron of the Philadelphia Flyers.[4][8] Butler appeared in 47 games for the Sabres in his rookie season, scoring two goals and four assists.[9]

An ankle injury forced Butler out of the Sabres' lineup for 12 games in 2009–10, but he posted improved offensive numbers, scoring 21 points in 59 games.[4] Still, he found himself marginalized by the Sabres late in the season, and stated himself that he lacked consistency in his play in 2010–11.[3] He appeared in 49 games for the Sabres, and while his offensive production dropped to nine points, he improved his plus-minus to +8 after finishing −15 the year previous.[9] Following the season, however, Butler was packaged in a deal that saw him dealt to the Calgary Flames along with Paul Byron on June 25, 2011, in exchange for Robyn Regehr, Ales Kotalik and a second round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.[10] The Flames quickly signed him to a two-year, US$2.5 million contract.[11] During his tenure with the Flames, Butler tied a dubious plus-minus record, finishing -7 during a January 5, 2012 game against the Boston Bruins.

On July 16, 2014, Butler signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the hometown club, the St. Louis Blues.[12] On July 1, 2015, Butler re-signed with the Blues on a one-year, one-way contract worth $675,000. Butler familiarly agree to remain with the Blues to following season, agreeing in free agency to return for a third season on July 2, 2016.[13]

In his fifth season within the Blues organization in the 2018–19 season, Butler continued as a veteran presence in the AHL while splitting the year between the San Antonio Rampage and the Blues. He made 13 regular season appearances with St. Louis, contributing with 1 goal and 2 points. He was a part of the extended playoff squad for the Blues, and as a part of the Blues first Stanley Cup championship he skated with cup following the Stanley Cup Finals Game 7 victory over the Boston Bruins.[14]

On July 3, 2019, Butler reportedly retired from hockey after 11 professional seasons.[14]

Coaching career

Bulter remained within hockey in accepting an amateur scouting role with the Arizona Coyotes organization for the 2021–22 season. After a lone season with the Coyotes, on August 8, 2022, Butler moved to the Pittsburgh Penguins organization after he was announced as a player development coach, to help develop defensive prospects.[15]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 Chaminade College HS-MO 1 3 4 — — — — —
2002–03 St. Louis Jr. Blues CSHL 44 2 12 14 35 — — — — —
2002–03 Chaminade College HS-MO 0 1 1 — — — — —
2003–04 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 55 3 6 9 37 7 0 1 1 6
2004–05 Sioux City Musketeers USHL 60 6 22 28 90 13 1 6 7 10
2005–06 University of Denver WCHA 35 7 15 22 28 — — — — —
2006–07 University of Denver WCHA 39 10 17 27 42 — — — — —
2007–08 University of Denver WCHA 41 3 14 17 38 — — — — —
2008–09 Portland Pirates AHL 27 2 10 12 14 4 0 0 0 0
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 47 2 4 6 18 — — — — —
2009–10 Buffalo Sabres NHL 59 1 20 21 22 — — — — —
2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 49 2 7 9 26 7 0 1 1 10
2011–12 Calgary Flames NHL 68 2 13 15 34 — — — — —
2012–13 Karlskrona HK Allsv 5 0 0 0 8 — — — — —
2012–13 Calgary Flames NHL 44 1 7 8 19 — — — — —
2013–14 Calgary Flames NHL 82 2 14 16 39 — — — — —
2014–15 St. Louis Blues NHL 33 3 6 9 23 — — — — —
2014–15 Chicago Wolves AHL 14 1 8 9 6 — — — — —
2015–16 Chicago Wolves AHL 46 4 14 18 39 — — — — —
2015–16 St. Louis Blues NHL 5 0 0 0 4 — — — — —
2016–17 Chicago Wolves AHL 72 5 21 26 46 9 1 5 6 4
2016–17 St. Louis Blues NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2017–18 San Antonio Rampage AHL 61 8 21 29 22 — — — — —
2017–18 St. Louis Blues NHL 6 0 0 0 2 — — — — —
2018–19 St. Louis Blues NHL 13 1 1 2 0 — — — — —
2018–19 San Antonio Rampage AHL 51 2 19 21 40 — — — — —
NHL totals 407 14 72 86 187 7 0 1 1 10
AHL totals 271 22 93 115 167 13 1 5 6 4

International

Medal record
Representing the  United States
Ice hockey
Ice Hockey World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Sweden/Finland
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2006 United States WJC 4th 4 0 0 0 2
2012 United States WC 7th 8 1 1 2 0
2013 United States WC 3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 10 0 2 2 0
Junior totals 4 0 0 0 2
Senior totals 18 1 3 4 0

Awards and honors

Award Year
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2006
All-WCHA Second Team 2008
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 2008
WCHA All-Tournament Team 2008 [16]

References

  1. ^ a b Cruickshank, Scott (2011-10-09). "Flame Butler having a ball". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2012-01-22. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  2. ^ "Doug Butler statistics". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  3. ^ a b c d Odland, Kristen (2011-10-06). "Flames newcomer excited for fresh start". Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on 2020-01-10. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  4. ^ a b c d e 2010–11 Buffalo Sabres Media Guide. Buffalo Sabres Hockey Club. 2010. p. 30.
  5. ^ "Player statistics by team – USA" (PDF). International Ice Hockey Federation. 2006-01-05. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  6. ^ Chambers, Mike (2008-04-13). "Pioneers' Butler heading to NHL". Denver Post. p. C11. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  7. ^ "Sabres' Miller stifles Kings to record third shutout of season". ESPN. 2008-12-19. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  8. ^ "Flyers 6, Sabres 4". ESPN. 2009-03-20. Retrieved 2011-10-10.
  9. ^ a b "Chris Butler profile". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  10. ^ "Flames deal Regehr, Kotalik to Sabres for Butler, Byron". The Sports Network. Retrieved 25 June 2011.
  11. ^ "Flames sign recently acquired Butler". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-10-11.
  12. ^ "Butler signs one-year, two-way deal". St. Louis Blues. 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2014-07-16.
  13. ^ "Blues add depth, agree to terms with 9 players". St. Louis Blues. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2016-07-01.
  14. ^ a b Butler, Chris (July 3, 2019). "A dream that never existed". NHL.com. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
  15. ^ "Penguins add Butler, Pateryn and Peters to hockey operations staff". Pittsburgh Penguins. August 8, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "WCHA Tourney History". WCHA. Archived from the original on 2014-07-02. Retrieved 2014-06-26.
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