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Craig Button

Craig Button (born January 3, 1963) is a Canadian executive, scout, and television analyst, renowned for his expertise in player evaluation and NHL draft analysis. Born in , to a family deeply embedded in professional hockey—his father, Jack Button, was a longtime NHL executive and general manager of the , while his mother, Bridget, served as secretary to GM —Button moved to as a teenager and developed a passion for the sport. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from in 1987, where he met his wife, Cara Alexander-Button. Button's professional career began during his university years as a part-time scout, transitioning to a full-time role with the in 1987. Following the franchise's relocation to become the in 1993, he advanced to director of scouting (1993–1997) and then director of player personnel (1998–2000), playing a key role in building the team that won the in 1999. He later served as general manager of the from 2000 to 2003, during which he contributed to the continued development of star forward , before briefly scouting for the in 2003–2004. Since 2004, Button has been a prominent NHL for TSN, where he currently holds the position of director of and provides in-depth commentary on player prospects, team strategies, and rankings. His analytical acumen, honed over decades in and management, has made him a respected voice in Canadian media, with annual TSN rankings influencing fan and industry perspectives on emerging talent.

Early life

Family background

Craig Button was born on January 3, 1963, in Rochester, New York. His family was deeply immersed in professional hockey, with both parents holding significant roles in the sport that shaped his early environment. His father, Jack Button, served as an executive with the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans during Craig's infancy and later held key positions, including general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1974 to 1975 and director of player personnel for the Washington Capitals from 1979 to 1983. In 1975, Jack Button was hired by NHL President Clarence Campbell to establish and direct the newly formed NHL Central Scouting Bureau, a role he held until 1979; this hiring prompted the family's relocation to Montreal in 1975. Button's mother, Bridget Button, contributed to the family's hockey-centric life by working as a secretary for the under general manager George "Punch" Imlach during the , a period when the team achieved multiple victories. Button's brother, Tod Button, has also pursued a career in , serving as an assistant coach for the in the 1990s and as director of scouting for the as of 2025. This professional involvement extended the family's connections within the NHL, fostering an atmosphere where discussions and events were everyday occurrences. The relocation to further embedded Button in a vibrant culture, as the city was home to the storied Canadiens franchise. Growing up in this milieu, Button developed a profound passion for from childhood, influenced directly by his parents' careers and the constant exposure to the sport's inner workings. He has described as the "family business," highlighting how his early years were defined by attending games, analyzing plays, and absorbing the strategic elements of the game through familial insights. This foundational environment not only ignited his lifelong dedication but also provided informal mentorship in scouting and talent evaluation long before his formal involvement in the industry.

Education and early influences

Button graduated from Riverdale High School in , in 1980. He later pursued higher education at in , earning a degree in in 1987. During his time at , Button balanced studies with part-time involvement in scouting, which helped fund his tuition and deepened his engagement with the sport. His choice of was influenced by its smaller class sizes and supportive environment, allowing him to immerse himself in Montreal's vibrant culture after moving there as a teenager. Button's economics education laid a foundational role in developing his analytical approach to , emphasizing data-driven evaluation of players and teams. This academic training enabled him to apply quantitative methods, such as detailed spreadsheet analysis, to assessments, distinguishing his methodology in the field.

Professional career

Scouting and executive roles with Minnesota North Stars and Dallas Stars

Craig Button began his National Hockey League career in 1988 as a scout for the Minnesota North Stars, where he focused on identifying promising talent across junior and international leagues. His early work contributed to the team's player development pipeline during a period of transition for the franchise. In 1992, Button was promoted to Director of Scouting for the North Stars, a role he retained following the team's relocation to Dallas in 1993, where it became the . As the franchise shifted to amid financial challenges in , Button played a key part in maintaining continuity, helping to rebuild the roster through strategic evaluations. By 1998, he advanced to Director of Player Personnel, overseeing broader personnel decisions and draft preparations. Under Button's scouting leadership, the Dallas Stars made several impactful draft selections that bolstered their contention window. Notably, in 1995, the team selected forward 11th overall, a pick Button championed despite initial skepticism about the prospect's flashier peers, recognizing his power-forward potential and . Another key acquisition was , drafted in the fifth round (124th overall) in 1994, whose intelligent puck-handling and reliability Button helped identify as foundational for the team's defensive future. These choices exemplified Button's emphasis on character-driven players who could contribute to long-term success. Button's executive contributions were instrumental in the Stars' rise to prominence, culminating in the 1999 Stanley Cup victory over the Buffalo Sabres. The team also secured Presidents' Trophies in both 1998 and 1999, recognizing their regular-season dominance, with Button's personnel oversight aiding in assembling a balanced roster featuring stars like Mike Modano and . His tenure from 1988 to 2000 marked a formative era of scouting excellence for the franchise.

General manager of the Calgary Flames

Craig Button was appointed as the vice president and general manager of the Calgary Flames on June 6, 2000, following his executive roles with the Dallas Stars organization. His hiring came amid a franchise rebuild, leveraging his prior scouting expertise to reshape the roster. One of Button's early decisions was trading goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks on June 10, 2000, in exchange for a second-round draft pick (used to select Matt Pettinger). This move was made to protect veteran Fred Brathwaite in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft, though Giguère later emerged as a star, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003. Under Button's oversight, the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Saint John Flames, achieved success by winning the Calder Cup championship in 2001, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in six games. In November 2002, Button traded center to the for prospect Ruslan Zainullin, addressing Savard's public request for a move amid ongoing contract disputes. Despite these efforts to inject youth and address roster imbalances, the Flames struggled with consistency during Button's tenure. The 2002–03 season saw the team finish with a 29–36–13–4 record, accumulating 75 points and missing the playoffs by placing fifth in the Northwest Division. On , 2003, the Flames announced they would not renew Button's contract, citing the need for organizational changes following three seasons of underwhelming results. This decision paved the way for to assume the general manager role alongside his coaching duties.

Later scouting positions

Following his dismissal as general manager of the in April 2003 amid the team's struggles to advance in the , Craig Button transitioned back to a scouting role to reevaluate his career in operations. In September 2004, Button joined the as a professional , focusing on evaluating prospects and potential acquisitions for the . His tenure with the Leafs lasted until 2007, during which he contributed to the team's player assessment processes, though specific draft or impacts attributed directly to his work remain limited in public records. Prior to the Leafs role, from mid-2003 to 2004, Button worked with The Score, a Canadian sports network, in a capacity that bridged his executive experience with ongoing analysis, marking an interim period before recommitting to full-time NHL scouting. This phase reflected a deliberate step down from to hands-on evaluation, allowing Button to leverage his extensive background in talent identification while adapting to non-executive responsibilities. By 2007, Button's scouting with the Leafs concluded, paving the way for his shift toward media-based roles where he could apply his scouting expertise independently.

Broadcasting and media career

Role at TSN

Craig Button joined TSN in the mid-2000s, initially serving as an NHL analyst before being named Director of , a role that draws on his extensive background in professional evaluation. In this capacity, he has become a key figure in TSN's coverage, providing expert analysis on player development and team strategies. A cornerstone of Button's contributions at TSN is the production of "Craig's List," his monthly NHL Draft rankings that offer detailed evaluations of emerging talents. For the 2025 NHL Draft, his rankings highlighted a deep pool of forwards, including 13 centers in the top 32 such as Saginaw's at No. 2, alongside promising defensemen like Tri-City's Jackson Smith ranked at No. 12. Button's insights predicted a draft class strong in offensive depth, with top forwards projected to address needs for teams seeking playmaking centers and wingers, while elite defensemen like Smith were noted for their two-way potential. Button regularly appears on TSN programs such as That's Hockey and , where he delivers prospect evaluations and in-depth team analysis. On That's Hockey, he breaks down controversial plays and strategic matchups, often emphasizing perspectives on player performance. His segments focus on current NHL trends, including draft implications for roster building. As of November 2025, Button continues his role at TSN, offering commentary on teams like the and amid their early-season challenges. He has expressed concerns about the Leafs' contender status due to defensive gaps and questioned the Oilers' ability to maintain consistent play, underscoring his ongoing influence in Canadian hockey media.

Contributions to NHL Network

Craig Button served as an analyst for NHL Network during the , primarily contributing to the studio show NHL on the Fly, a fast-paced program featuring game highlights, post-game analysis, and expert commentary on league-wide developments. In this role, he delivered detailed game breakdowns, breaking down key plays, player performances, and strategic decisions to provide viewers with in-depth insights into ongoing NHL action. Button's segments often included prospect scouting reports, such as his signature "Craig's List" rankings of top draft-eligible players, which he shared during episodes leading up to the , offering evaluations based on his extensive background. He also provided playoff predictions, analyzing potential matchups, team strengths, and outcomes to guide national audiences through the postseason narrative. Unlike his later, more draft-focused work at TSN, Button's NHL Network contributions emphasized broader North American coverage of the NHL, with particular attention to U.S.-based teams and their integration into the league's competitive landscape. This role evolved from regular appearances in the late through the early , gradually shifting as Button transitioned to a primary focus on TSN broadcasting by the mid-.

Recognition

Team achievements

During his tenure as director of scouting for the from 1992 to 1998, Button contributed to personnel decisions that helped build a strong roster, leading the team to the in the 1997–98 season as the NHL's top regular-season performer with 112 points. Transitioning to director of player personnel in 1998–99, he continued to support talent evaluation and development, enabling the Stars to secure a second consecutive that year with a league-best 114 points. Button's scouting work was particularly impactful in the 1998–99 playoffs, where the Stars defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games to claim their first Stanley Cup championship. His efforts in identifying key players through scouting and acquisitions bolstered the team's depth and performance en route to the title. As general manager of the starting in 2000, Button provided oversight for the organization's affiliate, the , which captured the in 2001 by defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4–2 in . This minor-league success highlighted effective player development under his executive leadership.

Scouting and analytical impact

Craig Button has earned a strong reputation for his player evaluation skills, exemplified by his pivotal role as director of scouting for the in selecting 11th overall in the , a prospect who went on to become a Hall of Famer and one of the league's all-time greats despite lacking initial flash. His ongoing TSN rankings continue to highlight this acumen, consistently identifying high-impact talents through detailed assessments of skill sets and potential. Button has influenced modern by integrating economics-informed , emphasizing how statistical data and constraints shape player value in a cap-era NHL. At TSN, he applies this approach to prospect evaluations, blending traditional with quantitative insights on long-term roster fit and , which has helped advance data-driven in operations. As a leading draft prognosticator, Button's rankings are widely regarded for their foresight, with his 2025 projections—featuring 13 centers in the top 32, including at No. 2—shaping prospect discussions and team strategies ahead of the NHL Draft. His monthly "Craig's List" updates, released through TSN, often spark debates and influence media coverage, underscoring his status as a go-to expert. Button's broader legacy lies in bridging executive-level with public analysis, translating insider perspectives into accessible insights for fans and teams alike during his two decades at TSN. While he has not received formal awards, peers in the industry acclaim his deep game knowledge and predictive accuracy, cementing his influence across and .

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