How Should New Jersey Devils Deal With Will Butcher Next Season?

Will Butcher #8 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The New Jersey Devils have a lot of young players on the roster, but one player who’s hitting his “prime” and might not be in the right timeline is Will Butcher. The 26-year-old defenseman hasn’t been the same since his rookie season. The Devils signed him two years ago to a three-year deal paying him $3.73 million per season. Obviously, that looks like an overpayment now, but Butcher honestly didn’t look that bad when he was given a legitimate shot late last year.

So, in Lindy Ruff‘s system that seems to play to Butcher’s weaknesses (most notably his footwork), what could he possibly be next season? What should…