Without knowing the details, it would appear GM Kyle Dubas was doing Butcher a solid by dealing him to a team that might have use for him. The Wild recently lost puck-moving defenseman Jared Spurgeon with a season-ending hip/back injury and traded another offensive-minded rearguard, former Pens prospect Calen Addison, to the Sharks in November.
Too, Wild coach John Hynes is most familiar with the 29-year-old blueliner, having coached him in New Jersey.
Once a highly sought-after player who won the Hobey Baker Award in 2016-17 and earned NHL All-Rookie team honors with the Devils the following season, Butcher’s career has pretty much been in steady regression since.