Tony Granato

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox ice hockey player

Anthony Lewis Granato (born July 25, 1964) is an American former professional ice hockey left winger and former head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team. He served as head coach of the United States men's national ice hockey team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. Previously, he was the head coach of the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Colorado Avalanche, as well as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings and the Pittsburgh Penguins.<ref name=nhl>Template:Cite web</ref>

Playing career

New York Rangers

After high school, Granato was drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round, 120th overall, in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. After a college career at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Granato made an immediate impact in his first season with the Rangers in 1988–89, leading the team in goals scored (36), which still stands as the team record for goals by a rookie. In what Rangers at the time called "the biggest [deal] in club history", Granato was traded with teammate Tomas Sandström to the Los Angeles Kings on January 20, 1990, in exchange for center Bernie Nicholls.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During a February 9, 1994, game in Los Angeles, Granato, after receiving a hard hit from the Chicago Blackhawks' 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 seventh-longest suspension in NHL history. On January 25, 1996, Granato suffered a serious head injury in a game against the Hartford Whalers that resulted in a bleeding on the left lobe of his brain.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He underwent surgery and although there was speculation he would not play again, he returned to the ice in the 1996–97 NHL season after signing with the San Jose Sharks as a free agent.

San Jose Sharks

Granato returned to the ice in the 1996–97 NHL season with San Jose. Due to concerns of further brain injury, Granato wore a specially padded helmet as a precautionary measure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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. However, his productivity steadily declined, with only 59 collective points in his remaining four seasons with the Sharks.<ref>Tony Granato NHL. Retrieved May 28, 2018.</ref> 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 NHL 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 replace him.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the slow start under Hartley, the Avalanche went 32–11–4–4 under Granato and captured their ninth consecutive division title (including one title 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 quarter-finals, but lost to the Sharks in six games in the semi-finals.

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,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> holding that position for three seasons. On May 22, 2008, Granato was renamed head coach of the Avalanche after the departure of Quenneville for the 2008–09 NHL season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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, tenth) and penalty killing (85.0 percent, fifth) to top-ten league finishes during the 2013–14 NHL season.<ref name=nhl/>

On June 25, 2014, it was announced the Penguins would not retain their coaching staff for the 2014–15 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On July 15, 2014, Granato was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On March 30, 2016, Granato was named the head coach at his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin–Madison.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On August 4, 2017, Granato was announced as the head coach for the United States national team during the 2018 Winter Olympics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His team eventually placed seventh.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On March 6, 2023, University of Wisconsin Director of Athletics Chris McIntosh announced that Granato would not return for the 2023-24 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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. Tony still has a lot of personal connections to his hometown, Downers Grove. Siblings Don, Rob, and Cammi were influenced by the Chicago Blackhawks and the 1980 Winter Olympics USA gold medal. He is now (2023) a TV analyst for both the NHL and the Chicago Blackhawks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On December 11, 2023, Granato announced that he had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and that he would be taking a leave of absence from his television career to begin treatment on the cancer that same week.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After a four week absence, Granato returned to broadcasting for the first time on January 7, 2024.<ref name="TVReturn">Template:Cite news</ref>

Granato is a Christian.<ref name="TVReturn"/>

Awards and achievements

Award Year
All-WCHA Second Team 1984–85 <ref name=WCHA>Template:Cite news</ref>
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1984–85 <ref name=AHCA>Template:Cite news</ref>
All-WCHA Second Team 1986–87 <ref name=WCHA>Template:Cite news</ref>
AHCA West Second-Team All-American 1986–87 <ref name=AHCA>Template:Cite news</ref>
NCAA (WCHA) Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year 1986–87
NHL All-Rookie Team 1988–89
All-Star Game 1996–97
NHL Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy 1996–97
United States Hockey Hall of Fame 2020 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
1981–82 Northwood School HS-Prep — — — — — — — — — —
1982–83 Northwood School HS-Prep 34 32 60 92 — — — — — —
1983–84 University of Wisconsin WCHA 35 14 17 31 48 — — — — —
1984–85 University of Wisconsin WCHA 42 33 34 67 94 — — — — —
1985–86 University of Wisconsin WCHA 32 25 24 49 36 — — — — —
1986–87 University of Wisconsin WCHA 42 28 45 73 64 — — — — —
1987–88 United States Intl 49 40 31 71 55 — — — — —
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 1,425 79 16 27 43 141

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
1983 United States WJC 7 4 0 4 0
1984 United States WJC 7 1 3 4 6
1985 United States WC 9 4 2 6 10
1986 United States WC 8 2 7 9 8
1987 United States WC 9 2 3 5 12
1988 United States OG 6 1 7 8 4
1991 United States CC 7 1 2 3 12
Junior totals 14 5 3 8 10
Senior totals 39 10 21 31 46

Head Coaching record

NHL

Team Year Regular season Post season
G W L T OTL Pts Finish W L Win% Result
COL 2002–03 51 32 11 4 4 (105) 1st in Northwest 3 4 Template:Winpct Lost in Conference Quarterfinals (MIN)
COL 2003–04 82 40 22 13 7 100 2nd in Northwest 6 5 Template:Winpct Lost in Conference Semifinals (SJ)
COL 2008–09 82 32 45 — 5 69 5th in Northwest — — — —
Total 215 104 78 17 16 9 9 Template:Winpct 2 playoff appearances

College

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See also

References

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