Tony Granato

Tony Granato
Assistant coach of the Penguins, October 2011
Born	(1964-07-25) July 25, 1964 (age 47) Downers Grove, IL, USA
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight	185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position	Left Wing
Shot	Right
Played for	New York Rangers (1988–1990) Los Angeles Kings (1990–1996) San Jose Sharks (1996–2001)
National team	United States
NHL Draft	120th overall, 1982 New York Rangers
Playing career	1988–2001

Anthony Lewis Granato (born July 25, 1964^[1] in Downers Grove, Illinois) is an American retired National Hockey League left winger and a former head coach and assistant coach of the Colorado Avalanche. He was named an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 5, 2009.^[2]

Career

Playing career

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. He has played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. In February 1994, Granato was suspended by the NHL for 15 games after he slashed Chicago's Neil Wilkinson in the head during a game in Los Angeles. As of 2005, this was the 7th longest suspension in NHL history. In 1997, while with the Sharks, Granato received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

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.^[3] Despite the slow start under Hartley, the Avalanche went 32–11–8 under Granato and captured their ninth consecutive division title (including the one won as the Quebec Nordiques). However, they lost in the first round of the 2003 playoffs to the Minnesota Wild in 7 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. After defeating the Dallas Stars in 5 games, the Avalanche lost to the San Jose Sharks in 6.

After the disappointing playoff loss to the Sharks, Granato was replaced by Joel Quenneville. Granato was re-assigned and agreed to stay on as an assistant.^[4] 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.^[5][6] The Avs 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.^[7][8]

On August 5, 2009, Granato joined the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Penguins, signing on as an assistant coach.^[2]

Hockey player Cammi Granato is his younger sister and former NHL player Ray Ferraro is his brother-in-law. He has 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 stats at The Internet Hockey Database