2018 U.S. Olympian Bobby Butler, & Rookies Drew Melanson & Jason Salvaggio, Ink AHL Deals with Hartford
BY: Bob Crawford, Hartford Wolf Pack
HARTFORD, July 2, 2018: Hartford Wolf Pack general manager Chris Drury announced today that the Wolf Pack has signed forwards Bobby Butler, Drew Melanson and Jason Salvaggio to American Hockey League contracts.
Butler, a veteran of eight pro seasons, was a member of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team, skating in five games for Team USA at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. The 31-year-old Marlborough, MA native also played in 67 AHL games in 2017-18 with the Milwaukee Admirals. Butler led the Admirals club in goals and finished second in points, with 24-21-45 in 36 games.
The 6-0, 188-pound Butler has seen action in 130 NHL games in his career, with the Ottawa Senators, New Jersey Devils, Nashville Predators and Florida Panthers, amassing totals of 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points. He has logged 288 career games of AHL action, with the Admirals, Binghamton Senators, Albany Devils and San Antonio Rampage, registering 111 goals and 100 assists for 211 points. He won the Calder Cup as a rookie with Binghamton in 2010-11, has four 20-goal AHL seasons to his credit, and has been selected for three AHL All-Star Classics (2010-11, 2012-13 and 2014-15).
Prior to signing with Ottawa as an undrafted free agent March 29, 2010, Butler played four seasons at the University of New Hampshire. In 153 career games as a Wildcat, he struck for 61 goals and 60 assists for 121 points and earned Hockey East Player of the Year honors as a Senior in 2009-10. In 39 games that year, Butler had 29 goals and 24 assists for 53 points.
Melanson, 23, a 5-11, 182-pound native of Paramus, NJ, played five games with the Wolf Pack in 2017-18, contributing one assist, after finishing his NCAA eligibility at Boston University (Hockey East). He skated in 40 games with the Terriers, notching six goals and adding 13 assists for 19 points, while serving 28 minutes in penalties.
Prior to this this past year, Melanson played three seasons at R.P.I. (ECAC), totaling 17 goals and 26 assists for 43 points, along with 44 penalty minutes, in 100 games. He earned ECAC All-Rookie honors in 2014-15, leading the Engineers in points and goals with 9-11-20 in 36 games.
Salvaggio, a 24-year-old 6-0, 180-pounder, joined the Wolf Pack last season after completing a four-year career at the University of New Hampshire. He was scoreless in four AHL games, after tallying eight goals and eight assists for 16 points, and serving 42 minutes in penalties, in 36 U.N.H. outings. Those totals were good for third on the Wildcat team in goals and third in PIM.
A native of Hanson, MA, Salvaggio suited up for a total of 116 games in his U.N.H. career, scoring 34 goals and adding 26 assists for 60 points, with 116 penalty minutes.
Season ticket information for the Wolf Pack’s 2018-19 AHL season can be found on-line at www.hartfordwolfpack.com. To speak with a representative about all of the Wolf Pack’s many attractive ticketing options, call (855) 762-6451, or click here to request more info.
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
ROAD WARRIORS LOST TO RABBITS; SWAMP RABBTS IMPRESSIVE IN DEFEAT
SOLAR BEARS TAKE SERIES LEAD WITH OVERTIME WIN Orlando puts Greenville on the brink despite Colton Young’s 3-point night, Bobby Russell’s pair of goals By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite a high-scoring affair, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell to the Orlando…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
WOLF PACK PREGAME: ATLANTIC SEMIS VS. BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins open their second Calder Cup Playoff series in as many years against each other tonight at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05…
WOLF PACK COMPLETE PAIR OF TRANSACTIONS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack Bryce McConnell-Barker Reassigned by Rangers, Maxim Barbashev Released from ATO HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the club has reassigned forward Bryce McConnell-Barker to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack from…
WOLF PACK TO PLAY BRUINS IN ATLANTIC SEMIS
WOLF PACK TO FACE PROVIDENCE BRUINS IN ATLANTIC DIVISION SEMIFINALS Foes Faceoff For Second Straight Postseason HARTFORD, CT—For the second straight postseason, The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins will face off in the Atlantic Division Semifinals. This series will follow a 2-2-1 setup, with the…
GARAND AND WOLF PACK ELIMINATE CHECKERS IN 3
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack CHARLOTTE, NC – Dylan Garand made a playoff career-high 39 saves on Sunday afternoon to help the Hartford Wolf Pack complete their First Round series victory over the Charlotte Checkers. The Wolf Pack used a five-on-five, powerplay, and shorthanded…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…