That can be said for Marlborough, Mass., native Bobby Butler, the former University of New Hampshire captain who is making a strong push to make the Ottawa Senators' NHL roster. The 6-foot, 185-pound forward survived the team's first round of cuts, and he has another chance to impress on Wednesday night in a preseason game against the Maple Leafs.
The 23-year-old's quest to find a spot on the NHL roster won't be easy, not with the likes of Milan Michalek, Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Alex Kovalev occupying spots on the top two lines. That's nothing new, though, for Butler, who wasn't even drafted despite setting all sorts of scoring records for Marlborough High School.
That didn't stop Butler from posting gaudy numbers at UNH, where he registered 121 points in 153 games, including 29 goals and 24 assists in his senior season.
He signed with the Senators on a two-way contract last March, and he's impressed thus far in the preseason. His highlight came when he scored on a penalty shot against the Montreal Canadiens.
"I feel every day it's getting faster and close to the season, so I definitely feel good," he told Gord Wilson of Senators' All Access. "I think I fit in and hopefully I can keep playing well."
Asked whether he feels pressure, his answer was honest.
"I definitely felt a lot of pressure," he said, adding that the pressure can make him perform better.
Check out his thoughts on the goal and his chances with the Senators in the video below.
