Columbus Blue Jackets: Would Will Butcher Make Sense for Columbus?
By William Espy
The Columbus Blue Jackets defense has gone from a weak link to the team’s biggest strength within a span of only a few years. With players like Jack Johnson getting close to unrestricted free agency, it’s time to start looking for his replacement.
The Columbus Blue Jackets organization is not only built for success in the near future, but with a deep prospect pipeline there is potential for long term success. Will Butcher would fit nicely on the second pairing in a few short years. Unless the team is signing him just to trade him while his value is at an all time high; he would not make sense for the Blue Jackets.
Columbus Blue Jackets
It is difficult to pass up on signing a Hobey Baker winner for nothing. With the Blue Jackets’ depth with left handed defensemen and the track record of players who don’t sign with the team who drafted them make it an unnecessary risk and distraction.
Names like Zach Hyman, Mike Reilly, and last season Jimmy Vesey have not lived up to expectations. Vesey had a decent rookie year, however not one that garnered the amount of attention he received the prior off-season.
Blue Jacket Defense Depth
On the left-handed side of the defense, the Blue Jackets will have players such as Zachary Werenski, Ryan Murray, Markus Nutivaara, Gabriel Carlsson for the long term future. They also potentially have Vladislav Gavrikov who will be added to the mix in a couple of years.
If you added Will Butcher to the mix, likely he would never reach more than the bottom pairing. That would be beneficial to the team, however it is extremely improbable that a player like Butcher would be happy with that type of role.
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Even if the Columbus Blue Jackets are on the shortlist of teams Butcher would sign with when he becomes a UFA on Aug. 15, it is not worth the gamble for the team. Nothing is guaranteed with Butcher and a signing like this would anger Joe Sakic which would make it even more difficult for the Blue Jackets to attempt to acquire a player like Matt Duchene. The Jackets should take a pass on the Hobey Baker winner.