One of the Wild's top prospects is having an insane season in the KHL. In a 3-2 win over the Henderson Silver Knights last night for the Iowa Wild, Will Butcher recorded his first goal for his new team which gave the Wild a 2-1 lead in the third period. Butcher, 29, was acquired by the Wild over a week ago from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for forward Maxim Cajkovic. The Wisconsin native and former Hobey Baker Award Winner from the Denver Pioneers, has one goal and one point in three games for the Iowa Wild of the AHL this season. He has played in 17 AHL games this season and has recorded four goals and eight points with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Iowa Wild. Current Wild head coach John Hynes coached Butcher in the NHL for a couple of seasons and even coached him when he put up five goals and 44 points in 81 games in his rookie season. “I’m not so sure at this point," Hynes said when asked if he anticiapates possibly seeing Butcher with the NHL club this season. "Right now, obviously, with Spurge being out for the year, it’s to get some depth in the organization, whether that’s to help us or whether it’s to solidify or give Iowa some assistance on the back end." Despite having a good first year in New Jersey as a rookie, Butcher went on to play the next four seasons mainly in the NHL but hasnt played in an NHL game since the 2021-22 season with the Buffalo Sabres where he only played 37 games. "He played great for us in New Jersey and then I haven't seen him play in quite a while," Hynes said on what happened to Butcher. "I mean, Will's strengths; he's a good offensive defenseman, he's got good hockey sense, he can move the puck. Good instincts on the power play. I think that the next step for him is the pace in which he can play with, and then I would say the ability to defend against speed and bigger players. "So Will's certainly got some NHL attributes and has had some good success in the NHL, but sometimes it's just putting things together as your career continues to move on to not only be a very effective player in the American Hockey League, but how does that game then translate into the NHL again?" RELATED
