‘When Butler was called up in mid-December, it was unclear what his role with the team would be. He was called in due to injury, and it was also presumed that he was behind Weber on the depth chart. However, due to his performance in the NHL and Weber’s injury concerns this year, the Sabres were not able to keep Butler off the ice. He did have a rough patch during a Western swing in late January, but rebounded well, particularly when paired with team captain Craig Rivet. Based on his reliable, effective style of play, it would not be a surprise to see Butler on Buffalo’s top pairing next season.’