Jerry Butler (ice hockey)

Jerome Patrick Butler (born February 27, 1951) is a Canadian former 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.

Jerry Butler
Born (1951-02-27) February 27, 1951
Sarnia, Ontario, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Right Wing
Shot Right
Played for New York Rangers
St. Louis Blues
Toronto Maple Leafs
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
NHL Draft 55th overall, 1971
New York Rangers
Playing career 1971–1983

Playing career

Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Butler was selected 55th overall by the New York Rangers in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft 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 1976–77, posting 12 goals and 32 points for the Blues.

Butler was dealt from the Blues to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Inge Hammarström on November 1, 1977.[1] 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. (Dave "Tiger" Williams was also dealt to Vancouver as part of the same trade; in exchange Toronto received Bill Derlago and Rick Vaive.) In 1980–81, Butler 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, and thus missed 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.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP GAPtsPIM GPGAPtsPIM
1969–70 Sarnia Bees WOHL ————— —————
1970–71 Hamilton Red Wings OHA 5962026131 701131
1971–72 Omaha Knights CHL 72191837173 —————
1972–73 New York Rangers NHL 81014 —————
1972–73 Providence Reds AHL 6429305997 412311
1973–74 New York Rangers NHL 266101624 1202225
1973–74 Providence Reds AHL 48202242114 —————
1974–75 New York Rangers NHL 78171633102 310116
1975–76 St. Louis Blues NHL 6617244175 30000
1976–77 St. Louis Blues NHL 8012203265 400014
1977–78 St. Louis Blues NHL 90225 —————
1977–78 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 73971649 1311218
1978–79 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 76871552 60004
1979–80 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL 55781529 —————
1979–80 Vancouver Canucks NHL 2344821 40002
1980–81 Vancouver Canucks NHL 8012152760 31010
1981–82 Vancouver Canucks NHL 2531415 —————
1981–82 Dallas Black Hawks CHL 476243030 1645936
1982–83 Winnipeg Jets NHL 4236914 —————
NHL totals 64199120219515 4833679

References
  1. The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club, Official Centennial Publication, 1917–2017. Toronto, ON: McClelland & Stewart Limited, 2016. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
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