Buffalo Sabres defenseman Chris Butler is on the losing end of the numbers game for five matches and counting. Tyler Myers, Henrik Tallinder, Toni Lydman, Craig Rivet, Andrej Sekera and Steve Montador have been the starting six on Buffalo's blue line while the sophomore tries to find a path back onto the bench. The top four has been solidified throughout the year but Sekera, Montador and Butler have been sweating it out for a position among the remaining two openings.

Buffalo is 3-1-1 in the past five games without Butler and the defense is doing its job rather well. The 23-year-old has his usefulness and flaws and the flaws are having the final say in this healthy-scratch period. A work in progress, his development is revamping but mistakes happen and Butler ran into an abundance of them this season.

After the jump, we'll find out just what type of year it's been for the young defender.

Chris Butler

#34 / Defenseman / Buffalo Sabres

Height: 6-1

Weight: 203

Born: Oct 27, 1986

I Like The Sound Of That

First, an examination of the good in Butler's campaign under my catchy header (it is catchy right?). All of the comparisons will be made with the other defenseman instead of the entire team because that's the main focus. I'm not the statistical guru like Dave is, so bear with me please. The easiest thing to realize is that Butler's production trails Myers alone for the defense. For a team that doesn't average many goals each game, offensive input from the point is a terrific asset to behold.

Receiving just under 21 minutes of ice time routinely, Butler again only sits behind Myers in that area and is fifth in powerplay time per game and sixth in shorthanded responsibilities. The fact that he is being trained and thrown into different territories is a splendid sign that he will become a do-it-all type of defenseman. His offensive credentials are satisfying and by far the one part of his game that sets the level for the other areas, that he's struggled in, to reach.

Out of all his assists, 57 per cent (11) have come on the powerplay and a quarterback is a major need for Buffalo because of their lack of success during 5-on-4 and 5-on-3 chances. He moves the puck around impressively for his teammates. The quality of competition Butler faces daily is lessened by just Myers and Tallinder, so don't get too judgemental about his errors because he's being beaten by talented players.

And the quality of his teammates is rated as the sixth worst among the defense. I'll bet you're starting to sympathize with Butler a little aren't you? His assists per 60 minutes are third best and there's plenty more of these statistics at the great site, Behind the net. I won't bore you with all of them, just the more relevant ones.

Now Why Did He Do That?

Ready for the unexciting side of it all? A minus-12 rating isn't an assuring number to have next to the point total; it basically cancels it out. Butler has just one goal and 11 of his 19 assists were secondary (believe me, I counted them off). Secondary helpers don't create much excitement except for the fact that they count equally for fantasy hockey.

His points per 60 minutes total is second from last; unsurprising with the amount of ice time he receives. Buffalo has earned a goal 28 times when he's on the ice and allowed 35 in the same situation for a minus-seven differential. For every sixty-minute span Butler plays, the Sabres allow 2.81 goals, which is the most by far, and score 2.25 times. The differential is last by a good portion as well.

Lastly, Buffalo scores an average of 2.64 goals per every 60 minutes he's not playing and concede 2.22 tallies. When the two are subtracted, his is tied for tops on the team but it's not exactly a section you want to lead in because it indicates that the squad scores more than what they concede without your services.

Butler has encouraging offensive comprehensions but his efforts in his own zone need major refinement. When he uses his body and gets physical, he's a much better player for it. With 45 hits in 50 games, he'd be smart to plant players into the boards time and again.

Chris Butler may be the odd-man out on defense but there's always hope, especially in Buffalo where Lindy Ruff juggles lines like there's no tomorrow. As grueling as the numbers game can be, it's beatable.