Jack Button

Jack Button (1940–1996) was a professional hockey executive with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. The Jack Button Award, given to the top prospect for the Washington Capitals, is created in his honor.

NHL clubs
He served as an assistant coach while with the Penguins from 1969 until 1974 when he was named as the franchise's second general manager. In Washington, Jack was highly regarded as a scout. He was credited with discovering Peter Bondra, Jim Carey, Sergei Gonchar, Michal Pivonka and Brendan Witt. He was a apart of the Capital franchise from 1979 until his death in 1996. During the 1996–97 season, the Capitals wore a memorial patch for Button which showcased his initials and a bulldog.

Minor league clubs
Jack also served as the general manager of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League during the 1959–60 season, and the Amarillo Wranglers of the Central Hockey League during the 1968–69 season.

League work
Button also founded the NHL Central Scouting Bureau and served as its first director from 1975 until 1979. He was also the Secretary and Treasurer of the AHL.

Family
Jack is the father of Craig Button a former executive with the Dallas Stars and the Calgary Flames, as well as a current scout with the Toronto Maple Leafs. His other son Tod is the Flames' current director of scouting.