Chris Butler is a retired professional ice hockey player who played as a defenseman. He was born on October 27, 1986, in St. Louis, Missouri, and began his hockey career playing for the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2004.
Butler played college hockey at the University of Denver, where he was named to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) All-Rookie Team in 2005-06. He was also named to the All-WCHA Academic Team in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
In 2006, Butler was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the fourth round of the NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with the Sabres in 2008-09, playing in 47 games and recording 13 points.
Butler played for the Sabres for three seasons before being traded to the Calgary Flames in 2011. He played for the Flames for four seasons, serving as an alternate captain during the 2014-15 season.
In 2015, Butler signed with the St. Louis Blues, the team he grew up rooting for. He played for the Blues for two seasons before signing with the AHL's San Antonio Rampage in 2017.
Butler played for the Rampage for two seasons before announcing his retirement from professional hockey in 2019. Over the course of his NHL career, he played in 407 games, recording 72 points.
Off the ice, Butler was known for his philanthropic work. He was a finalist for the NHL's King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2015, which recognizes players who exemplify leadership qualities on and off the ice and make significant humanitarian contributions to their communities. Butler was also a member of the NHLPA's Executive Board and served as the Flames' NHLPA player representative.
In addition to his NHL career, Butler represented the United States in international competition. He played for Team USA at the 2006 World Junior Championships, where he won a bronze medal, and at the 2012 World Championships.
Overall, Chris Butler had a successful hockey career, playing for four different NHL teams and representing his country on the international stage. He was known for his leadership qualities and philanthropic work off the ice, and his contributions to the sport will not be forgotten.
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