Jason Drandon Botterill (born May 19, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and executive who is currently serving as an assistant general manager of the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Botterill was the former associate GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins before serving as general manager of the Buffalo Sabres from May 11, 2017, to June 16, 2020.[1]

Jason Botterill
Botterill in the 2003 AHL All-Star Game
Born (1976-05-19) May 19, 1976 (age 48)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 15 st 10 lb)
Position Left wing
Shot Left
Played for Dallas Stars
Atlanta Thrashers
Calgary Flames
Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft 20th overall, 1994
Dallas Stars
Playing career 1997–2005
Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 1994 Ostrava
Gold medal – first place 1995 Red Deer
Gold medal – first place 1996 Massachusetts

Playing career

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Botterill was drafted by the Dallas Stars in the first round with the 20th overall selection of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Before turning pro, he played four seasons (1993–97) at the University of Michigan, where he helped lead the Wolverines to an NCAA national championship in 1996. He is the only Canadian to ever win a gold medal in three straight World Junior Hockey Championships. In eight seasons as a pro, Botterill played in 481 professional games,[2] including 88 in the National Hockey League with the Dallas Stars, Atlanta Thrashers, Calgary Flames, and Buffalo Sabres. Other stops in his career included the Michigan K-Wings and Orlando Solar Bears of the International Hockey League and the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League, where he was a member of the 2001 Calder Cup championship team. After serving as the Flames captain in 2001–02, Botterill signed with Buffalo as a free agent.

Botterill's career was abruptly halted when, as a member of the Rochester Americans, he suffered a concussion during a game against the Syracuse Crunch on October 31, 2004. After missing the next 49 games, Botterill announced his retirement from hockey.[3]

Management career

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Botterill received his MBA from The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2007. Following his playing career, he worked with the NHL Offices and the NHL Central Registry and spent the 2006–2007 season as a scout for the Dallas Stars.

On July 17, 2007, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Botterill's hiring as director of hockey administration. His main responsibilities included monitoring the salary cap and contract research and negotiations, but also worked with salary arbitration and preparation as well as scouting.[4] Botterill was promoted by the Penguins to assistant general manager on May 22, 2009. He replaced Chuck Fletcher, who was named general manager of the Minnesota Wild on the same day. In The Hockey News 2011 edition of the 100 Most Powerful People in ice hockey, Botterill was considered one of the Top 40 under the age of 40.[5] On May 16, 2014, Botterill was named as interim general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins and as a candidate for the full position.[6] On June 6, 2014, Jim Rutherford was named general manager of the Penguins. In his press conference, Rutherford announced that Botterill would be named associate general manager of the Penguins.

On May 11, 2017, the Buffalo Sabres announced that Botterill had been hired as the team's general manager.[7] He was fired by the Sabres on June 16, 2020.[8]

On January 5, 2021, the Seattle Kraken announced that Botterill had been hired as the team's assistant general manager.[9]

Personal life

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Botterill was born in Edmonton, Alberta, but grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Jason's sister, Jennifer Botterill, enjoyed numerous hockey successes with the Canadian women's team, before retiring in 2011. His mother, Doreen McCannell, participated in speed skating at the 1964 and 1968 Winter Olympics. His father, Cal Botterill, is a professor at the University of Winnipeg.

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1992–93 St. Paul's School HS-Prep 22 22 26 48
1993–94 University of Michigan CCHA 37 21 19 40 94
1994–95 University of Michigan CCHA 34 14 14 28 117
1995–96 University of Michigan CCHA 37 32 25 57 143
1996–97 University of Michigan CCHA 42 37 24 61 129
1997–98 Dallas Stars NHL 4 0 0 0 19
1997–98 Michigan K-Wings IHL 50 11 11 22 82 4 0 0 0 5
1998–99 Dallas Stars NHL 17 0 0 0 23
1998–99 Michigan K-Wings IHL 56 13 25 38 106 5 2 1 3 4
1999–2000 Atlanta Thrashers NHL 25 1 4 5 17
1999–2000 Orlando Solar Bears IHL 17 7 8 15 27
1999–2000 Calgary Flames NHL 2 0 0 0 0
1999–2000 Saint John Flames AHL 21 3 4 7 39 3 0 0 0 19
2000–01 Saint John Flames AHL 60 13 20 33 101 19 2 7 9 30
2001–02 Calgary Flames NHL 4 1 0 1 2
2001–02 Saint John Flames AHL 71 21 21 42 121
2002–03 Buffalo Sabres NHL 17 1 4 5 14
2002–03 Rochester Americans AHL 64 37 22 59 105 3 1 1 2 21
2003–04 Buffalo Sabres NHL 19 2 1 3 14
2003–04 Rochester Americans AHL 46 16 17 33 68 16 5 10 15 19
2004–05 Rochester Americans AHL 8 6 2 8 9
AHL totals 270 96 86 182 443 41 8 18 26 89
NHL totals 88 5 9 14 89

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
1994 Canada WJC   7 1 0 1 8
1995 Canada WJC   7 0 4 4 6
1996 Canada WJC   6 1 3 4 6
Junior totals 20 2 7 9 20

Awards and honours

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Award Year
All-CCHA Rookie Team 1993–94
All-CCHA Second team 1995–96 [10]
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1996–97
CCHA All-Tournament Team 1997 [11]

References

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  1. ^ @BuffaloSabres (16 June 2020). "We have relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as General Manager. Senior Vice President of Business Administrati…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Dave Molinari (October 18, 2009). "Quite The Sister Act. Hockey Has Been Good To Penguins Assistant General Manager Jason Botterill, But Even He Admits He's Not The Most Accomplished In His Family". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. C14. Retrieved July 6, 2012.
  3. ^ "Amerks' Botterill retires". theahl.com. February 24, 2005. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Fitzgerald, Botterill Hope To Enhance Penguins". Pittsburgh Penguins. 2007-07-17. Archived from the original on 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
  5. ^ The Hockey News, Volume 64, Number 14, January 17, 2011, p.25, Publisher: Caroline Andrews, Transcontinental Media.
  6. ^ "Shero Relieved of Duties as Penguins GM - Pittsburgh Penguins". Pittsburgh Penguins. May 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Sabres Hire Botterill as General Manager". 2017-05-11.
  8. ^ @BuffaloSabres (16 June 2020). "We have relieved Jason Botterill of his duties as General Manager. Senior Vice President of Business Administrati…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Seattle Kraken name Jason Botterill as new assistant general manager". 2021-01-05.
  10. ^ "All-CCHA Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved 2013-07-27.
  11. ^ "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Dallas Stars first round draft pick
1994
Succeeded by
Preceded by Interim general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins
2014
Succeeded by
Preceded by General manager of the Buffalo Sabres
20172020
Succeeded by