Craig Button | |
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| Born | (1963-01-03)January 3, 1963 (age 63) Rochester, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations | Sportscaster, analyst. |
| Known for | Sportscaster onThe NHL on TSN, formerNational Hockey League Executive (General Manager of the Calgary Flames, 2000–2003) |
Craig J. Button (born January 3, 1963) is currently anice hockey analyst forTSN and a formerNational Hockey League (NHL) executive.
Born inRochester, New York, Button entered the world of hockey at birth. His father,Jack Button, was an executive with theRochester Americans, and his mother, Bridget, was the secretary to long-timeToronto Maple Leafs' General Manager and Head Coach andHockey Hall of Fame memberGeorge "Punch" Imlach. Jack held executive positions at theAmerican 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 toMontreal in 1975 when Jack was hired by NHL PresidentClarence 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 fromRiverdale High School inPierrefonds, Quebec in 1980 and obtained hisBachelor of Arts inEconomics fromConcordia University, Montreal, in 1987.[2][3]
Craig is an annual speaker at the "SMWW Hockey Career Conference" for the online sports-career training schoolSports Management Worldwide, founded and run byDr. Lynn Lashbrook.
Button began his NHL management career in 1988 with theMinnesota North Stars. He was the Director of Scouting forDallas Stars 1992–98, Director of Player Personnel for Dallas Stars 1998–2000. During this time, Button worked for hockey legendsBobby Clarke andBob Gainey. While with the Stars, the team participated in twoStanley Cup Finals, winning in1999, and were recipients of thePresidents' Trophy on two occasions. The list of players drafted during his tenure includeDerian Hatcher,Jere Lehtinen,Jamie Langenbrunner,Marty Turco,Jarome Iginla andBrenden Morrow.
He replacedAl Coates as the Vice President andGeneral Manager of theCalgary Flames in 2000.
Button's tenure as Flames general manager produced mixed results. While he was a guiding force for the Flames' primary development teamSaint John Flames of theAmerican Hockey League when they captured theCalder Cup championship in 2001, his moves for the Flames roster didn't have the same impact. Future Hall of FamerMartin St. Louis's contract was bought out after he was exposed in the2000 NHL expansion draft and went undrafted. Button also traded away futureConn Smythe-winning goaltenderJean-Sebastien Giguere on June 10, 2000, to theMighty Ducks of Anaheim in exchange for a second-round pick.[4] On November 15, 2002, Button tradedMarc Savard to theAtlanta Thrashers forRuslan Zainullin, who never played a game in the NHL.[5]
Button held the GM position until the conclusion of the2002–03 NHL season, when his contract was not renewed and was replaced withDarryl Sutter, whom he had hired as Head Coach in December 2002.[6] During the2003–04 NHL season, the Flames made it to theStanley Cup Finals before losing in seven games to theTampa Bay Lightning.
After his departure from the Flames, Button joined theToronto Maple Leafs in 2004 as a scout.[7]
Button is currentlyTSN's Director of Scouting.[8] He is also an analyst on TSN'sThat's Hockey.
Prior to joining TSN, Button was an analyst on the NHL Network showNHL on the Fly.[9]
| Preceded by | General Manager of the Calgary Flames 2000–03 | Succeeded by |