A former Sabres defenseman is heading to Minnesota.
A former Sabres defenseman is heading to Minnesota.
A minor trade has occurred in the NHL today, and it involves a former Buffalo Sabres defenseman.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenseman Will Butcher to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Maxim Cajkovic.
Butcher, 29, signed with the Penguins during the offseason and spent the entirety of his tenure with the organization in the AHL. In 14 games this season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he posted three goals, four assists, and a plus-1 rating.
Butcher is now expected to join the Wild's AHL affiliate, the Iowa Wild, and should be a key veteran presence on their blue line. With that, the former Hobey Baker winner will serve as a potential call-up option for when injuries arise.
Butcher's last stint in the NHL came during the 2021-22 season when he was a member of the Sabres. In 37 games with the Sabres that campaign, he had two goals, six assists, and a minus-10 rating.
In 275 career NHL games between the New Jersey Devils and Sabres, he has 16 goals and 114 points.
It will be intriguing to see how the former Sabre now performs with the Wild organization from here. Here's to hoping he gets another crack at the NHL level at some point.
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