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Craig Button

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Kinda like him now honestly. Good at play by play and he is around the CHL a lot. He has some hot takes, but he also hits on quite a few of his risers/fallers and all the people criticizing him run away on these boards after spouting off and being dead wrong.
 
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Was going through old photos on my phone the other day and saw that I had a picture of the 2019 tournament predictions made by Craig Button. They were as follows:
Canada - Gold
Russia - Silver
Czech Republic - Bronze??
USA - 4th

Seems pretty typical until you see the Czech's in the top four. Given that they haven't won any medal since a bronze in 05' putting them even 4th is a bold move, let alone defeating the Americans in that game. Here are the actual results:

Finland - Gold
USA - Silver
Russia - Bronze
Switzerland - 4th.

I know it's a short tournament and anything can happen, but to seriously not predict a single medalist correctly, or even any of the top 4 for that matter when getting paid for exactly that reason, is pretty suspect. The Czech's finished 7th by the way, Canada 6th.
 
If he was a good GM, he wouldn't be doing TV. He's a lot more qualified than Milbury, who combined being a complete idiot with a disgusting lack of professionalism.
 
Arguing that a guy shouldn’t be on tv discussing hockey because he wasn’t a great GM isn’t a particularly great argument. Just like some good GM’s wouldn’t necessarily be great on tv. It’s not for everyone. Some people are good on tv and some aren’t.

That said, I don’t like Button on tv.
 
Odie Cleghorn said:
I saw him at the Top Prospects Game in Hamilton this year. He overrates a lot of players and he isn't going to do much criticism of a players game. But he will analyze a play and tell you who was responsible for creating the scoring chance or who made the wrong play and gave up the scoring chance.
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I think everybody who scouts has a player type they may gravitate towards
somebody like Pronman will put skill above everything else for instance
Brian Burke said on radio that he'll have scouts who have different approaches watch a player who they are interested to get a more leveled opinion.

But you read some of the comments in this thread. and it's like he has been wrong about every single prospect in history.
 
Rabid Ranger said:
Only in America? Only in Canada can a guy like this become an institution. LOL.
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As far as I know being an NHL general manager and a hockey analyst on TV are seperate jobs so attempting to dissect his track record as a GM to argue that he's also a poor tv guy doesn't make any sense to me.

There are far worse hockey opinions out there than Buttons and he does an alright job on television imo.
 
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I’ve grown to appreciate Button more and more. He’s not always right but his evaluation of talent isn’t bad and if given a chance he explains his position. He does a million podcasts and radio hits too, it’s not like he’s just showing up on tv. He has a passion for it, I don’t mind his analysis.
 
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I like Button as a passionate, knowledgeable analyst BUT he has gotten more aggressive and a "My opinion is right only" type every year. It's annoying for me and he argues with everyyyyyy one in his media appearances. I'd be fine if he stuck to the odd draft show and some mild analysis.
 
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I like Button. He's not my favourite but he's clearly knowledgeable and has some good takes. He's also not afraid to go out on a limb.

I think a lot of the bitterness towards guys like him come from keyboard warriors who think that their superior prospect knowledge is being ignored. Paging Dunning-Kreuger.
 
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MarkusNaslund19 said:
I think a lot of the bitterness towards guys like him come from keyboard warriors who think that they're superior prospect knowledge is being ignored. Paging Dunning-Kreuger.
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I mean I don't know, he might sound alright to Canadians and from their perspective but as a foreigner, to me is just flat-out ignorant so many times.

Even today, he was telling how one of the biggest challenges to the Austrian coach is going to be trying to get his players to stop looking at Rossi to do everything for them. When in reality, these guys have played together for years while Rossi wasn't there, for the most part, so they are very much used to it. Furthermore, they had trouble involving him in the play on the ice, if anything. So it just leaves you shrugging shoulders what is he talking about and is just ignorant towards the guys who actually won the promotion to the elite division. In Canada, sure it works fine to the narrative how Rossi is a star amongst a bunch of bums and everyone should be excited to see him because why would anyone watch Austria play otherwise.
 
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SoundAndFury said:
I mean I don't know, he might sound alright to Canadians and from their perspective but as a foreigner, to me is just flat-out ignorant so many times.

Even today, he was telling how one of the biggest challenges to the Austrian coach is going to be trying to get his players to stop looking at Rossi to do everything for them. When in reality, these guys have played together for years while Rossi wasn't there, for the most part, so they are very much used to it. Furthermore, they had trouble involving him in the play on the ice, if anything. So it just leaves you shrugging shoulders what is he talking about and is just ignorant towards the guys who actually won the promotion to the elite division. In Canada, sure it works fine to the narrative how Rossi is a star amongst a bunch of bums and everyone should be excited to see him because why would anyone watch Austria play otherwise.
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Oh please! you want to forgo on all this nonsense. There's a headline on a Russian website today that the pre-tournament game between Canada and Russia is the most anticipated in the history of the WJHC. and Canadians are trembling.

Great take by an idiot reporter. but, hey! I'm sure he might sound alright to Russians, but as a foreigner, to me, it is just flat out ignorant.
 
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The first paragraph of the OP seems largely disconnected from the rest of the post. I'm going to go ahead and guess that TSN isn't headhunting qualified NHL general managers when they hire analysts, although I suppose that could explain the lack of new talent among NHL GMs.
 
Gold Standard said:
Oh please! you want to forgo on all this nonsense. There's a headline on a Russian website today that the pre-tournament game between Canada and Russia is the most anticipated in the history of the WJHC. and Canadians are trembling.

Great take by an idiot reporter. but, hey! I'm sure he might sound alright to Russians, but as a foreigner, to me, it is just flat out ignorant.
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Yes, it is. Russian media is a joke in general.
 
ktownhockey said:
I like Button as a passionate, knowledgeable analyst BUT he has gotten more aggressive and a "My opinion is right only" type every year. It's annoying for me and he argues with everyyyyyy one in his media appearances. I'd be fine if he stuck to the odd draft show and some mild analysis.
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Agree. He should tone down the aggressive takes a bit, it's gone a bit too far. I don't dislike his commentary though, he has a good eye for the game.
 
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I like him, actually has something to say about prospects. Majority of people just seem to put other peoples lists together and make a few swaps based on nothing.

Him and Bob actually put in some effort at least.
 
ktownhockey said:
I like Button as a passionate, knowledgeable analyst BUT he has gotten more aggressive and a "My opinion is right only" type every year. It's annoying for me and he argues with everyyyyyy one in his media appearances. I'd be fine if he stuck to the odd draft show and some mild analysis.
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That's my main issue with him. He looks like he watches Colin Cowherd or Stephen A Smith for insight, which I feel is the last thing most Canadians want for hockey coverage.
 
Craig Button is fine, every GM makes bad mistakes and it isn't entirely his fault since major of teams conduct trades as a front office instead of one official.
 
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