Tony Granato

Tony Granato
As assistant coach of the Penguins, October 2011
Born	(1964-07-25) July 25, 1964 Downers Grove, IL, U.S.
Height	5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Rangers Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks
National team	United States
NHL Draft	120th overall, 1982 New York Rangers
Playing career	1988–2001

Anthony Lewis Granato (born July 25, 1964^[1]) is a retired American professional ice hockey left winger. He is currently in his first year as head coach for the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team. Previously he was an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Granato also served as the head coach and assistant coach of the Colorado Avalanche and assistant coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins.^[2]

Playing career

New York Rangers

Following a college career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Granato was drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (120th overall) in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Granato made an immediate impact in his first NHL season with the Rangers in the 1988-89 season, leading the team in goals scored (36), which still stands as the team record for goals by a rookie. The following season, in what the Rangers officials (at the time) called 'the biggest [deal] in club history' Granato, along with Rangers teammate Tomas Sandstrom, was traded to the Los Angeles Kings on January 20, 1990 for center Bernie Nicholls.^[3]

Los Angeles Kings

Granato continued to be a prolific goal scorer with the Kings and was a key player in their run to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, contributing 17 points over the course of the playoffs.^[4][5] During a February 9, 1994 game in Los Angeles, Granato, after receiving a hard hit from Chicago's Neil Wilkinson, retaliated by hitting Wilkinson in the head with a two handed slash. Granato was subsequently suspended by the NHL for 15 games. As of 2012, this was the 7th longest suspension in NHL history. On January 25, 1996, Granato suffered a serious head injury in a game against Hartford that resulted in a bleeding on the left lobe of his brain.^[6] He underwent surgery, and although there was speculation that he would not play again, he did return to the ice in the 1996-97 season after having been traded to the San Jose Sharks.^[7]

San Jose Sharks

Granato returned to the ice in 1996 with the San Jose Sharks. Due to concerns of further brain injury, Granato wore a specially padded helmet as a precautionary measure.^[8] Upon his return to the NHL, he had a productive first season in San Jose registering 25 goals and 15 assists in 76 games. In 1997 Granato received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. Granato's productivity steadily declined, with only 59 collective points in his remaining four seasons with the Sharks.^[9] He retired as a player after the 2001 season.

Coaching career

Granato joined the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach prior to the 2002–03 season. After a sub-par start to the season, the Avalanche fired head coach Bob Hartley on December 18, 2002, and Granato was subsequently promoted to permanent head coach.^[10] Despite the slow start under Hartley, the Avalanche went 32–11–4-4 under Granato and captured their ninth consecutive division title (including one win as the Quebec Nordiques). However, they lost in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs to the Minnesota Wild in seven games after a 3–1 series lead. In his first full season behind the bench, Granato led Colorado to a 40–22–20 record, finishing second in their division. During the 2004 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars in five games in the quarterfinals, and lost to the San Jose Sharks in six games in the semifinals.

After the disappointing playoff loss to the Sharks, Granato was replaced by Joel Quenneville. Granato was reassigned and agreed to stay on as an assistant.^[11] He held that position for three seasons. On May 22, 2008, Granato was once again named head coach of the Avalanche after the departure of Quenneville for the 2008-09 season.^[12][13] The Avalanche posted a record of 32–45–5, the worst since the team moved from Quebec in 1995, and Granato was fired on June 5, 2009.^[14][15]

On August 5, 2009, Granato joined the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins, signing on as an assistant coach. Granato guided the Penguin's defense (2.49 goals against per game, 10th) and penalty killing (85.0 percent, fifth) to top-10 finishes in the NHL during the 2013–14 season.^[2]

On June 25, 2014, it was announced that the Penguins would not retain their coaching staff for the 2014–15 season.^[16]

On July 15, 2014, it was announced that Granato was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.^[17]

On March 30, 2016, it was announced that Granato would be the next head coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin–Madison.^[18][19]

Personal life

Granato is the older brother of Hall of Fame hockey player Cammi Granato, and is the brother-in-law of former NHL player Ray Ferraro. Tony and his wife, Linda, are the parents of four children.

Awards and achievements

• 1988–89 NHL All-Rookie Team
• 1996–97 All-Star Game
• 1996–97 NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Career statistics

Coaching record

See also

• List of NHL head coaches

References

External links

• Tony Granato's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database