Tony Granato
Encyclopedia
Anthony Lewis Granato 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.
, 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
.
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.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
retired National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
left winger
Winger (ice hockey)
Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink...
and a former head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and assistant coach
Coach (ice hockey)
Coach in ice hockey is the person responsible for directing the team during games and practices, prepares strategy and decides which players will participate in games....
of the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
. He was named an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
on August 5, 2009.
Playing career
Following a college career at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, Granato was drafted by the New York Rangers
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the...
in the sixth round (120th overall) in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft
1982 NHL Entry Draft
The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
. He has played for the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
and San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. 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
Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy
The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
.
Coaching career
Granato joined the Colorado AvalancheColorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
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
Bob Hartley
Robert Hartley is a former head coach in the National Hockey League. He coached the Colorado Avalanche from 1998–2002, period during which he won the Stanley Cup . He also coached the Atlanta Thrashers from the 2003 up until the beginning of the 2007, when he was fired after the Thrashers got off...
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
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
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
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
in 5 games, the Avalanche lost to the San Jose Sharks
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
in 6.
After the disappointing playoff loss to the Sharks, Granato was replaced by Joel Quenneville
Joel Quenneville
Joel Norman Quenneville is the head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks professional ice hockey team. He is a former ice hockey defenseman and former head coach of the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues...
. 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
2008–09 NHL season
The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
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
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
, signing on as an assistant coach.
Hockey player Cammi Granato
Cammi Granato
Catherine Michelle "Cammi" Granato is a retired American female ice hockey player and one of the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in November 2010....
is his younger sister and former NHL player Ray Ferraro
Ray Ferraro
Raymond Ferraro is a retired professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League for the Hartford Whalers , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , Los Angeles Kings , Atlanta Thrashers and St. Louis Blues...
is his brother-in-law. He has four children.
Awards and achievements
- 1988–89 NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
All-Rookie Team - 1996–97 All-Star Game47th National Hockey League All-Star GameThe 47th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place on January 18, 1997 at the San Jose Arena. The final score was Eastern Conference 11, Western Conference 7. This game was originally scheduled for the 1994-95 season, but was cancelled due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout.-Super Skills...
- 1996–97 NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Bill Masterton Memorial TrophyBill Masterton Memorial TrophyThe Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey. The winner is selected by a poll of the Professional Hockey Writers' Association after each team nominates one...
Career statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... |
Team | League | GP | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1983–84 | University of Wisconsin–Madison University of Wisconsin–Madison The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866... |
WCHA Western Collegiate Hockey Association The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is a college athletic conference which operates over a wide area of the Midwestern and Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I as an ice hockey-only conference.... |
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 New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
NHL National Hockey League The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States... |
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 Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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 San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
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 | |Regular season | COL Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... |
2002–03 | 51 | 32 | 11 | 4 | 4 | (105) | 1st in Northwest Northwest Division (NHL) The NHL's Northwest Division was formed in 1998 as part of the Western Conference due to expansion. Like the Pacific Division, the Northwest Division is also a descendant of the former Smythe Division, as three of its Canadian teams played in that division from 1981–1993... |
Lost in first round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| COL | 2003–04 | 82 | 40 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 100 | 2nd in Northwest | Lost in second round | ||
| COL | 2008–09 2008–09 NHL season The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the... |
82 | 32 | 45 | |||||||
| 5 | 69 | 5th in Northwest | Did not qualify | ||||||||
| Total | 215 | 104 | 78 | 17 | 16 | — | — | — | |||