Tony Granato

Tony Granato
Assistant coach of the Penguins, October 2011
Born	July 25, 1964 (1964-07-25) 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 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.

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. 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. 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. After coaching the worst season the Avs have seen so far, posting up a season record of 32-45-5, Granato was fired on June 3, 2009.

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

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

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
1983–84	University of Wisconsin–Madison	WCHA		35	14	17	31	48		—	—	—	—	—
1984–85	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		42	33	34	67	94		—	—	—	—	—
1985–86	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		32	25	24	49	36		—	—	—	—	—
1986–87	U. of Wisconsin	WCHA		42	28	45	73	64		—	—	—	—	—
1987–88	Colorado Rangers	IHL		21	13	14	27	36		8	9	4	13	16
1988–89	New York Rangers	NHL		78	36	27	63	140		4	1	1	2	21
1989–90	New York Rangers	NHL		37	7	18	25	77		—	—	—	—	—
1989–90	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		19	5	6	11	45		10	5	4	9	12
1990–91	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		68	30	34	64	154		12	1	4	5	28
1991–92	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		80	39	29	68	187		6	1	5	6	10
1992–93	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		81	37	45	82	171		24	6	11	17	50
1993–94	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		50	7	14	21	150		—	—	—	—	—
1994–95	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		33	13	11	24	68		—	—	—	—	—
1995–96	Los Angeles Kings	NHL		49	17	18	35	46		—	—	—	—	—
1996–97	San Jose Sharks	NHL		76	25	15	40	159		—	—	—	—	—
1997–98	San Jose Sharks	NHL		59	16	9	25	70		1	0	0	0	0
1998–99	San Jose Sharks	NHL		35	6	6	12	54		6	1	1	2	2
1999–00	San Jose Sharks	NHL		48	6	7	13	39		12	0	1	1	14
2000–01	San Jose Sharks	NHL		61	4	5	9	65		4	1	0	1	4
NHL totals				774	248	244	492	1425		79	16	27	43	141

Coaching record

Team	Year	Regular season							Post season
		G	W	L	T	OTL	Pts	Division rank	Result
COL	2002–03	51	32	11	4	4	(105)	1st in Northwest	Lost in first round
COL	2003–04	82	40	22	13	7	100	2nd in Northwest	Lost in second round
COL	2008–09	82	32	45	-	5	69	5th in Northwest	Did not qualify
Total		215	104	78	17	16	—	—	—

See also

• List of NHL head coaches

External links

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

Preceded by Gary Roberts	Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy Winner 1997	Succeeded by Jamie McLennan
Preceded by Bob Hartley	Colorado Avalanche head coach (first time) 2002–04	Succeeded by Joel Quenneville
Preceded by Joel Quenneville	Colorado Avalanche head coach (second time) 2008–09	Succeeded by Joe Sacco
Preceded by Jan Erixon	Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award Winner 1988–89 NHL season	Succeeded by Kelly Kisio John Vanbiesbrouck