Minnesota completed a minor deal Thursday as it moved right winger Maxim Cajkovic to Pittsburgh for Will Butcher. The 29-year-old Butcher has played in a limited amount of games this season for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AHL) but had three goals, seven points and six PIMs in 14 games prior to the trade.
Butcher had yet to play this season due to an undisclosed injury but was placed on waivers Tuesday by Pittsburgh and cleared with expectations to assign him to the AHL. The 28-year-old did not appear in the NHL in 2022-23, but had a successful campaign with the Texas Stars (AHL) where he had six goals, 43 points and a +11 plus/minus in 65 games played.
Butcher had yet to play this season due to an undisclosed injury but was placed on waivers Tuesday by Pittsburgh with hopes to assign him to the AHL. The 28-year-old did not appear in the NHL in 2022-23, but had a successful campaign with the Texas Stars (AHL) where he had six goals, 43 points and a +11 plus/minus in 65 games played.
Butcher had six goals, 37 assists, 16 PIMs and a+11 plus/minus through 65 games with Texas (AHL) and has signed a one-year, two-way contract ($775,000 AAV) with Pittsburgh. The 28-year-old defenseman last appeared in the NHL for Buffalo in 2021-22 and has picked up 16 goals and 114 points through 275 career games.
Butcher will come out of the lineup vs. the Flyers on Saturday afternoon and will be replaced by Jacob Bryson.
Butcher will take a seat with Henri Jokoiharju playing for the first time since the season opener.
With Ty Smith day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Butcher will draw back into the lineup in Pittsburgh. Butcher will skate on the top power-play unit and comes in with just one goal and two assists in 11 games this season.
Butcher underwent surgery to repair ruptured right thumb ligaments from an injury he sustained in St. Louis on February 18. Butcher is expected to make a full recovery in 3-to-4 months, which puts him on track to be ready for training camp 2021.
Butcher missed Sunday's game in Ottawa but head coach Alain Nasreddine told reporters that he still has to talk to the team medical staff, but a good chance that Butcher returns to the lineup tomorrow against Boston. Butcher has one goal and two assists in his last five games.
Butcher was forced to leave Friday's game vs. the Maple Leafs after logging just 9:18 TOI and missed Saturday's practice. With Butcher likely out vs. the Senators, Connor Carrick will likely replace him on the Devils' third pairing.
The Devils were expecting to get Butcher back on Friday night but they will continue with a third-pair of Mirco Mueller and Matt Tennyson for at least one more game. After tonight they are off until next Wednesday, so it gives Butcher almost an extra full week to get back to 100 percent.
Butcher missed last Saturday's game vs. the Canucks but is set to play Friday vs. Arizona. The left-handed defenseman will likely replace Mirco Muller on the Devils' third pair.
