The Cleveland Monsters have had a habit of finding key veteran players late in the offseason to add to their mix for the coming season. Last year it was Rocco Grimaldi and this year it’s defenseman Will Butcher.

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Butcher has 275 NHL games to his name and an additional 103 in the AHL, most recently in 2023-24 with the Iowa Wild and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The former Hobey Baker winner spent last season in part with the KHL’s Barys Astana before moving to Germany and playing for EHC München. It appeared that he was planning to stay in Germany as a development coach for the DEL team he played for last season, but plans have changed.

The 30-year-old Wisconsin native is a few years removed from his most productive season as a pro when he had 43 points in 65 games for the Texas Stars in 2022-23. Despite the absence in the league for the last few years, Butcher has the veteran presence and puck-moving capabilities to make a difference with Cleveland this season.

Butcher appeared in NHL games with the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres between 2018-19 and 2021-22. 

His most notable years likely came at the University of Denver where he helped the Pioneers win a national championship in 2017, the same year he won the Hobey. That season, he was also a first-team All-American and USA Hockey’s Jim Johannson college player of the year.

The following year, Butcher was an All-Rookie Team selection in the NHL and was part of Team USA at the Men’s World Championship, where they won bronze.

Cleveland didn’t go the PTO route with Butcher, signing him to a one-year AHL contract for the duration of the season. 

It’s a low-risk add to gain experience and presence on the blue line for this season.

The Monsters open the season on the road Friday night in the AHL’s very first game of 2025-26 as Cleveland travels to the Utica Comets.

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