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{{About|the hockey executive|the USAF pilot|Craig Button}}
{{Short description|American ice hockey executive}}
{{About|the hockey executive|the USAF pilot|Craig D. Button}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = 2014_Craig_Button_Headshot.jpg
| name =
| alt =
| image = 2014 Craig Button Headshot (cropped).jpg
| caption =
| alt =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|1|3}}
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|1|3}}
| birth_place = [[Rochester, New York]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Rochester, New York]], U.S.
| known_for = Sportscaster on ''[[The NHL on TSN]]'', former [[National Hockey League]] Executive (General Manager of the Calgary Flames, 2000–2003)
| known_for = Sportscaster on ''[[The NHL on TSN]]'', former [[National Hockey League]] Executive (General Manager of the Calgary Flames, 2000–2003)
| occupation = Sportscaster and analyst
| occupation = Sportscaster, analyst, Mayor
}}
}}
[[File:Media panel 2023 smww hockey conference.jpg|thumb|From Left: EJ Hradek, Paul Krotz, Craig Button and Dr. Lynn Lashbrook at the 2023 SMWW Hockey Career Conference in Nashville TN.]]
'''Craig Kaveh Button''' (born January 3, 1969) is currently a [[ice hockey]] analystic person for [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and a former [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) executive.
'''Craig J. Button''' (born January 3, 1963) is currently a [[ice hockey]] analyst for [[The Sports Network|TSN]] and a former [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) executive.


== Early life and hockey family ==
== Early life and hockey family ==
Born in [[Rochester, New York]], Button entered the world of hockey at birth. His father, [[Jack Button]], was an executive with the [[Rochester Americans]], and his mother, Bridget, was the secretary to long-time [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]' General Manager and Head Coach and [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] member [[George "Punch" Imlach]]. Jack held executive positions at the [[American Hockey League]] before embarking on an extensive career as an NHL executive. Button's brother Tod was an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals and is currently the Director of Scouting with the Calgary Flames.
Born in [[Rochester, New York]], Button entered the world of hockey at birth. His father, [[Jack Button]], was an executive with the [[Rochester Americans]], and his mother, Bridget, was the secretary to long-time [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]' General Manager and Head Coach and [[Hockey Hall of Fame]] member [[George "Punch" Imlach]]. Jack held executive positions at the [[American Hockey League]] before embarking on an extensive career as an NHL executive. Button's brother Tod was an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals and is currently the Director of Scouting with the Calgary Flames.
The Button family moved to [[Montreal]] in 1975 when Jack was hired by NHL President [[Clarence Campbell]] to institute and manage the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Button graduated from [[Riverdale High School (Pierrefonds, Quebec)|Riverdale High School]] in [[Pierrefonds, Quebec]] in 1980 and obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[Economics]] from [[Concordia University (Montreal)|Concordia University]], Montreal, in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|title=How about all-West Island NHL team?|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/world/how-about-all-west-island-nhl-team|access-date=12 January 2017|publisher=Montreal Gazette|date=20 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="OnTheFly">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59760 |title=Craig Button profile |publisher=NHL Network |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref>
The Button family moved to [[Montreal]] in 1975 when Jack was hired by NHL President [[Clarence Campbell]] to institute and manage the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Button served as the head coach of the Israeli Under-18 Junior hockey team.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Welcome to the Jewish Independent Online|url=https://www.jewishindependent.ca/oldsite/archives/oct07/archives07Oct19-09.html|access-date=2021-07-14|website=www.jewishindependent.ca}}</ref> Button graduated from [[Riverdale High School (Pierrefonds, Quebec)|Riverdale High School]] in [[Pierrefonds, Quebec]] in 1980 and obtained his [[Bachelor of Arts]] in [[Economics]] from [[Concordia University (Montreal)|Concordia University]], Montreal, in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|title=How about all-West Island NHL team?|url=https://montrealgazette.com/news/world/how-about-all-west-island-nhl-team|access-date=12 January 2017|publisher=Montreal Gazette|date=20 June 2012}}</ref><ref name="OnTheFly">{{cite web |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59760 |title=Craig Button profile |publisher=NHL Network |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref>

Craig is an annual speaker at the "[https://www.sportsmanagementworldwide.com/conferences/nhl-draft-sports-career-conference SMWW Hockey Career Conference]" for the online sports-career training school [[Sports Management Worldwide]], founded and run by [[Lynn Lashbrook|Dr. Lynn Lashbrook]].


== Career ==
== Career ==
=== Early career with Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars ===
=== Early career with Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars ===
Button began his NHL management career in 1988 with the [[Minnesota North Stars]]. He was the Director of Scouting for [[Dallas Stars]] 1992–98, Director of Player Personnel for Dallas Stars 1998–2000. During this time, Button worked for hockey legends [[Bobby Clarke]] and [[Bob Gainey]]. While with the Stars, the team participated in two [[Stanley Cup Finals]], winning in [[1999 Stanley Cup Finals|1999]], and were recipients of the [[Presidents Trophy]] on two occasions. The list of players drafted during his tenure include [[Derian Hatcher]], [[Jere Lehtinen]], [[Jamie Langenbrunner]], [[Marty Turco]], [[Jarome Iginla]] and [[Brenden Morrow]].
Button began his NHL management career in 1988 with the [[Minnesota North Stars]]. He was the Director of Scouting for [[Dallas Stars]] 1992–98, Director of Player Personnel for Dallas Stars 1998–2000. During this time, Button worked for hockey legends [[Bobby Clarke]] and [[Bob Gainey]]. While with the Stars, the team participated in two [[Stanley Cup Finals]], winning in [[1999 Stanley Cup Finals|1999]], and were recipients of the [[Presidents' Trophy]] on two occasions. The list of players drafted during his tenure include [[Derian Hatcher]], [[Jere Lehtinen]], [[Jamie Langenbrunner]], [[Marty Turco]], [[Jarome Iginla]] and [[Brenden Morrow]].


=== Calgary Flames ===
=== Calgary Flames ===
He replaced [[Al Coates (ice hockey)|Al Coates]] as the Vice President and [[List of Calgary Flames general managers|General Manager]] of the [[Calgary Flames]] in 2000.
He replaced [[Al Coates (ice hockey)|Al Coates]] as the Vice President and [[List of Calgary Flames general managers|General Manager]] of the [[Calgary Flames]] in 2000. Button held that position until the conclusion of the [[2002–03 NHL season]], when his contract was not renewed and was replaced with [[Darryl Sutter]] who Button had hired as Head Coach in December 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/04/11/button_flames_st/ |title=Total control |publisher=CNN/SI |date=2003-04-11 |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref> During the [[2003–04 NHL season]] the Flames made it to the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] before losing in seven games to the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]]. He was a guiding force for the Flames' primary development team [[Saint John Flames]] of the [[American Hockey League]] when they captured the [[Calder Cup]] championship in 2001. During his tenure as GM of the Calgary Flames, Button put and lost future Hall of Famer, Martin St. Louis, on waivers,<ref>https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Martin+St.+Louis&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search</ref> traded future Conn Smythe winner J.S. Giguere to the Anaheim Ducks for a second round pick<ref>https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Jean-Sebastien+Giguere&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search</ref> in order to protect Fred Brathwaite in the expansion draft, and traded Marc Savard to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ruslan Zainullin.<ref>https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Ruslan+Zainullin&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search</ref> After his departure from the Flames he joined the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] in 2004 as a scout.<ref name="Scout">{{cite web |last=Zeisberger |first=Mike |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2004/09/21/637880.html |title=Leafs Button up staff |work=Toronto Sun |date=2004-09-21 |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref>


Button's tenure as Flames general manager produced mixed results. While he was a guiding force for the Flames' primary development team [[Saint John Flames]] of the [[American Hockey League]] when they captured the [[Calder Cup]] championship in 2001, his moves for the Flames roster didn't have the same impact.
⚫
=== TSN ===


Button put future Hall of Famer, [[Martin St. Louis]] on waivers, who left the team and signed with the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]] as a free agent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Martin+St.+Louis&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search|title = Hockey Transactions Search Results}}</ref>
⚫
Button is currently [[The Sports Network|TSN]]'s Director of Scouting, drawing on his intimate knowledge of the game and its players to deliver insight on the NHL's top prospects.<ref name="TSN">{{cite web |title=Craig Button |url=https://www.tsn.ca/talent/craig-button-1.56403 |website=TSN.ca}}</ref> He is also a key analyst on TSN's [[That's Hockey]].


Button also traded away promising young goaltender [[Jean-Sebastien Giguere]] to the [[Mighty Ducks of Anaheim]] in exchange for a second round pick in order to protect [[Fred Brathwaite]] in the [[2000 NHL Expansion Draft]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Jean-Sebastien+Giguere&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search|title = Hockey Transactions Search Results}}</ref>
⚫
Prior to joining TSN, Button was an analyst on the NHL Network show NHL on the Fly.<ref name="NHL">{{cite web |title=Craig Button NHL Network Bio |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59760 |website=NHL.com}}</ref>


Button later traded [[Marc Savard]] to the [[Atlanta Thrashers]] for [[Ruslan Zainullin]], who never played a game in the NHL.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=Ruslan+Zainullin&Team=&BeginDate=&EndDate=&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search|title = Hockey Transactions Search Results}}</ref>
Button works at TSN because he hasn't been able to get an NHL job in numerous attempts over the past decade plus.


Button held the position until the conclusion of the [[2002–03 NHL season]], when his contract was not renewed and was replaced with [[Darryl Sutter]] whom he had hired as Head Coach in December 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/04/11/button_flames_st/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026105723/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/news/2003/04/11/button_flames_st/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |title=Total control |publisher=CNN/SI |date=2003-04-11 |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref> During the [[2003–04 NHL season]] the Flames made it to the [[Stanley Cup Finals]] before losing in seven games to the [[Tampa Bay Lightning]].
== Personal life ==


After his departure from the Flames, Button joined the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] in 2004 as a scout.<ref name="Scout">{{cite news |last=Zeisberger |first=Mike |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2004/09/21/637880.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115091543/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2004/09/21/637880.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |title=Leafs Button up staff |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date=2004-09-21 |access-date=2010-04-15}}</ref>
Button is a [[dual citizenship|dual citizen]] of the United States and Canada. Button married his longtime girlfriend Cara on September 15th 2020. They have two daughters, Chandler and Quinn. {{Citation Needed|date=May 2021}}

⚫
=== TSN ===

⚫
Button is currently [[The Sports Network|TSN]]'s Director of Scouting, drawing on his intimate knowledge of the game and its players to deliver insight on the NHL's top prospects.<ref name="TSN">{{cite web |title=Craig Button |url=https://www.tsn.ca/talent/craig-button-1.56403 |website=TSN.ca}}</ref> He is also a key analyst on TSN's [[That's Hockey]].


⚫
Prior to joining TSN, Button was an analyst on the NHL Network show ''NHL on the Fly''.<ref name="NHL">{{cite web |title=Craig Button NHL Network Bio |url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59760 |website=NHL.com}}</ref>
In April 2021, Button appeared on TSN Hockey with a facial injury. In a pickleball mishap, he fell, leading to his sunglasses cutting his face on impact. Button received 6 stitches to his upper cheek and 3 to his eyebrow.{{Citation Needed|date=May 2021}}


==Awards and achievements==
==Awards and achievements==

Latest revision as of 19:02, 7 November 2024

This article is about the hockey executive. For the USAF pilot, see Craig D. Button.
Craig Button
Born (1963-01-03) January 3, 1963 (age 61)
Rochester, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Sportscaster, analyst, Mayor
Known forSportscaster on The NHL on TSN, former National Hockey League Executive (General Manager of the Calgary Flames, 2000–2003)
From Left: EJ Hradek, Paul Krotz, Craig Button and Dr. Lynn Lashbrook at the 2023 SMWW Hockey Career Conference in Nashville TN.

Craig J. Button (born January 3, 1963) is currently a ice hockey analyst for TSN and a former National Hockey League (NHL) executive.

Early life and hockey family

[edit]

Born in Rochester, New York, Button entered the world of hockey at birth. His father, Jack Button, was an executive with the Rochester Americans, and his mother, Bridget, was the secretary to long-time Toronto Maple Leafs' General Manager and Head Coach and Hockey Hall of Fame member George "Punch" Imlach. Jack held executive positions at the American Hockey League before embarking on an extensive career as an NHL executive. Button's brother Tod was an assistant coach with the Washington Capitals and is currently the Director of Scouting with the Calgary Flames. The Button family moved to Montreal in 1975 when Jack was hired by NHL President Clarence Campbell to institute and manage the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Button served as the head coach of the Israeli Under-18 Junior hockey team.[1] Button graduated from Riverdale High School in Pierrefonds, Quebec in 1980 and obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Concordia University, Montreal, in 1987.[2][3]

Craig is an annual speaker at the "SMWW Hockey Career Conference" for the online sports-career training school Sports Management Worldwide, founded and run by Dr. Lynn Lashbrook.

Career

[edit]

Early career with Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars

[edit]

Button began his NHL management career in 1988 with the Minnesota North Stars. He was the Director of Scouting for Dallas Stars 1992–98, Director of Player Personnel for Dallas Stars 1998–2000. During this time, Button worked for hockey legends Bobby Clarke and Bob Gainey. While with the Stars, the team participated in two Stanley Cup Finals, winning in 1999, and were recipients of the Presidents' Trophy on two occasions. The list of players drafted during his tenure include Derian Hatcher, Jere Lehtinen, Jamie Langenbrunner, Marty Turco, Jarome Iginla and Brenden Morrow.

Calgary Flames

[edit]

He replaced Al Coates as the Vice President and General Manager of the Calgary Flames in 2000.

Button's tenure as Flames general manager produced mixed results. While he was a guiding force for the Flames' primary development team Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League when they captured the Calder Cup championship in 2001, his moves for the Flames roster didn't have the same impact.

Button put future Hall of Famer, Martin St. Louis on waivers, who left the team and signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning as a free agent.[4]

Button also traded away promising young goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for a second round pick in order to protect Fred Brathwaite in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft.[5]

Button later traded Marc Savard to the Atlanta Thrashers for Ruslan Zainullin, who never played a game in the NHL.[6]

Button held the position until the conclusion of the 2002–03 NHL season, when his contract was not renewed and was replaced with Darryl Sutter whom he had hired as Head Coach in December 2002.[7] During the 2003–04 NHL season the Flames made it to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing in seven games to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After his departure from the Flames, Button joined the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2004 as a scout.[8]

TSN

[edit]

Button is currently TSN's Director of Scouting, drawing on his intimate knowledge of the game and its players to deliver insight on the NHL's top prospects.[9] He is also a key analyst on TSN's That's Hockey.

Prior to joining TSN, Button was an analyst on the NHL Network show NHL on the Fly.[10]

Awards and achievements

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Welcome to the Jewish Independent Online". www.jewishindependent.ca. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  2. ^ "How about all-West Island NHL team?". Montreal Gazette. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Craig Button profile". NHL Network. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  4. ^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
  5. ^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
  6. ^ "Hockey Transactions Search Results".
  7. ^ "Total control". CNN/SI. 2003-04-11. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  8. ^ Zeisberger, Mike (2004-09-21). "Leafs Button up staff". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
  9. ^ "Craig Button". TSN.ca.
  10. ^ "Craig Button NHL Network Bio". NHL.com.
Preceded by General Manager of the Calgary Flames
2000–03 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Craig_Button&oldid=1256005104"