Drafted from HC Lada Togliatti, Butsayev made his National Hockey League debut with the Red Wings during the 1999–2000 season, appearing in 57 games and scoring five goals. After spending parts of the next two seasons with the Red Wings, Butsayev was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers along with a draft pick for defenceman Jiri Slegr.\n', '

After spending parts of two seasons with the Thrashers, Butsayev returned to Russia during the 2003 season and has played there ever since. Butsayev played only 99 games in the NHL 75 with the wings and 24 with the thrashers. He scored a total of 10 NHL goals.\n', '

In September 2009 Butsayev was found guilty and sentenced to 10 months of conditional imprisonment for rape in Finland. The sexual assault had happened in Asikkala in July 2009. Butsayev was imprisoned for more than a month, but was allowed to leave the country after receiving his sentence.\n', '

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