Jerry Butler (ice hockey)
Encyclopedia
Jerome Patrick Butler is a retired a Canadian ice hockey
winger
who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League
. During his career, he was known as a fast, gritty defensive specialist with a limited offensive upside.
despite scoring only 6 goals in junior the previous season. He spent most of his first two professional seasons in the minors, earning an 8-game callup during the 1972–73 season during which he scored his first NHL goal. Called up again late in the 1973–74 campaign, he impressed with 16 points in 26 games, and remained with the team during the playoffs, appearing in 12 of 13 games.
In 1974–75, Butler's first full NHL season, he recorded 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 78 games, and earned a positive reputation for his speed, hustle, and quality defensive play. However, at the conclusion of the season he was traded to the St. Louis Blues
as the centerpiece of a deal for star goaltender John Davidson.
In St. Louis, he received the opportunity to play on one of the Blues' top lines with Garry Unger
and Bob MacMillan
, and responded with the finest year of his career, finishing the 1975–76 season with 17 goals and 41 points despite missing 14 games due to injury. He had another solid year in 1977–78, posting 12 goals and 32 points for the Blues.
Just after the start of the 1978–79 campaign, Butler was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs
for Inge Hammarstrom
. In Toronto, he received less icetime, as coach Roger Neilson
used him exclusively as a defensive/penalty killing specialist. Although his offensive numbers suffered and he finished the year with just 18 points, he was by now considered one of the best penalty killers in the NHL, and was an important part of a Toronto team which nearly reached the Stanley Cup
finals in 1978.
Butler spent three seasons in Toronto before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
late in the 1979–80 season. In 1980–81, he recorded 12 goals and 32 points for Vancouver, his highest offensive totals since his time in St. Louis. However, he lost his spot in the Canucks lineup during the 1981–82 season and was sent to the minors for the first time since 1974, meaning he wasn't part of the Canuck team which reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1982.
Released by the Canucks, he signed with the Winnipeg Jets as a free agent for 1982–83. He recorded 3 goals and 9 points in 42 games, but was demoted to the minors late in the season. Rather than accept the assignment, he chose to retire.
Butler finished his NHL career with 99 goals and 120 assists for 219 points in 641 games, along with 515 penalty minutes.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. During his career, he was known as a fast, gritty defensive specialist with a limited offensive upside.
Playing career
Butler was selected 55th overall in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft1971 NHL Amateur Draft
The 1971 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 10, 1971 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
despite scoring only 6 goals in junior the previous season. He spent most of his first two professional seasons in the minors, earning an 8-game callup during the 1972–73 season during which he scored his first NHL goal. Called up again late in the 1973–74 campaign, he impressed with 16 points in 26 games, and remained with the team during the playoffs, appearing in 12 of 13 games.
In 1974–75, Butler's first full NHL season, he recorded 17 goals and 16 assists for 33 points in 78 games, and earned a positive reputation for his speed, hustle, and quality defensive play. However, at the conclusion of the season he was traded to the St. Louis Blues
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team is named after the famous W. C. Handy song "St. Louis Blues", and plays in the 19,150-seat Scottrade...
as the centerpiece of a deal for star goaltender John Davidson.
In St. Louis, he received the opportunity to play on one of the Blues' top lines with Garry Unger
Garry Unger
Garry Douglas "Iron Man" Unger is a former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League from 1967 until 1983.- Playing career :...
and Bob MacMillan
Bob MacMillan
Robert Lea MacMillan is a former professional ice hockey forward who played in the NHL for 11 seasons from 1974–75 until 1984–85.MacMillan was drafted 15th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft....
, and responded with the finest year of his career, finishing the 1975–76 season with 17 goals and 41 points despite missing 14 games due to injury. He had another solid year in 1977–78, posting 12 goals and 32 points for the Blues.
Just after the start of the 1978–79 campaign, Butler was dealt to the Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
for Inge Hammarstrom
Inge Hammarström
Hans Inge Hammarström is a Swedish former professional ice hockey left winger who played six seasons in the National Hockey League for the Toronto Maple Leafs and St. Louis Blues...
. In Toronto, he received less icetime, as coach Roger Neilson
Roger Neilson
Roger Paul Neilson, CM was a National Hockey League coach, and was responsible for many innovations in the game...
used him exclusively as a defensive/penalty killing specialist. Although his offensive numbers suffered and he finished the year with just 18 points, he was by now considered one of the best penalty killers in the NHL, and was an important part of a Toronto team which nearly reached the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
finals in 1978.
Butler spent three seasons in Toronto before being dealt to the Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
late in the 1979–80 season. In 1980–81, he recorded 12 goals and 32 points for Vancouver, his highest offensive totals since his time in St. Louis. However, he lost his spot in the Canucks lineup during the 1981–82 season and was sent to the minors for the first time since 1974, meaning he wasn't part of the Canuck team which reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1982.
Released by the Canucks, he signed with the Winnipeg Jets as a free agent for 1982–83. He recorded 3 goals and 9 points in 42 games, but was demoted to the minors late in the season. Rather than accept the assignment, he chose to retire.
Butler finished his NHL career with 99 goals and 120 assists for 219 points in 641 games, along with 515 penalty minutes.