Devils sign Will Butcher

The badly lagging defensive corps of the New Jersey Devils needed a infusion of talent and youth for a questionable unit as training camp neared.
The Devils hope that they have found a player capable of providing both as they signed free agent college defenseman Will Butcher of the University of Denver to a two year contract.

Butcher declined to sign with the Colorado Avalanche after being picked in the fifth round in the 2013 draft and spent the last four years in the same town with the local university.
The 22 year old Butcher was the captain at Denver last season,won the Hobey Baker award as the player of the year in the NCAA and led the Pioneers to the NCAA championship on his way to being one of the more coveted young free agents available.
Ironically,one of the other free agents that was pursued by so many has parallels to Butcher-Alex Kerfoot was drafted by the Devils and signed with the Avalanche (as noted,Butcher was drafted by the Avalanche before signing with the Devils),finished second to Butcher for the Hobey Baker and both being captains for their schools that made the Frozen Four.

Butcher scored seven goals with thirty assists in forty three games and is noted as an offensive defenseman that moves the puck well,a role that the Devils are in desperate need of filling.
Those types of defensemen aren't usually available in free agency,so it goes to show why over half the league was linked to the pursuit of Butcher at various times after the season.
I don't think Butcher steps into one of the first two defensive pairings right away,but I think he gets plenty of ice time and maybe by the end of the season has a chance to earn playing time in important situations.

Not only is this is a big signing on the ice,it could eventually pay dividends off the ice as well.
A standard cliche' of new management teams in sports is about "Changing the Culture" and so often,it's lip service and a nice line to explain why you are getting rid of so many of the old management group's players and employees.
In the Devils case,I think it's legitimate.
Ray Shero is trying with every deal and with every draft pick to bring in fast skaters with an offensive mindset and it shows.
I love the Lou Lamoriello Devils and they'll always have a special place to me as a Devils fan,but the style of play handicapped them often in getting players to come to New Jersey and sometimes in being able to keep them there.
The culture change is real and so is the commitment to a more freewheeling style of play.

Which brings me to how this could be an even bigger deal than just signing a good prospect.
If the Devils can play fun hockey with skilled young players with Taylor Hall,Nico Hischler etc,players like Will Butcher will want to come to New Jersey and they'll want to stay.
But there has to be a first step-a step where someone looks at the situation,believes in what's being done and takes a leap of faith.
Will Butcher believes.
It'll still be some time away,but I believe the Devils are on the right track and tonight might be one of those nights that is a bigger deal later than it even is tonight....