Penguins name Tony Granato assistant coach

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 5, 2009 2:25 PM EDT in News

The Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins named Tony Granato as assistant coach, announced today by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Granato spent the last six seasons behind the bench for the Colorado Avalanche and served two stints as Avalanche head coach from 2002-04 and 2008-09. Granato compiled a 215-104-17-16 record and led Colorado to a Northwest Division title in 2003.

The Penguins needed to round out the coaching ranks with Tom Fitzgerald not wanting to continue the day-to-day responsibilities and travel required.

Fitzgerald worked with forwards a lot on faceoffs and penalty-killing, so presumably that may be an area that Granato, a former NHL forward, oversees.

Despite extensive coaching experience, Granato is just 45 years old, which ought to fit well with the youthful energy that Dan Bylsma (39) and Mike Yeo (36) look to keep throughout the lineup. Though he had some rocky seasons towards the end of his run with Colorado, Granato didn't have too much to work with roster wise. It'll be interesting to see how he fits in Pittsburgh and also if this will be a springboard for him to get another head coaching gig somewhere in the NHL.

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i’ve always liked tony. i think he’ll fit in well. he’s a solid dude.

by blaze1344 on Aug 5, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions

I always find it interesting when a guy who worked as a head coach chooses to go back to assistant.

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by FrankD on Aug 5, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm, I didn’t realize his record with the Avs was that good(in light of last year, I guess). Danny B, Mike and Tony…sounds like a Mob outfit behind the bench.

Heart, Max Talbot has it by the mile. The Pens are your 2008-2009 Stanley Cup Champions.

by Malsby on Aug 5, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions

Tony G is a really nice guy and I wish him and the Pens well — and a better experience than he had here in Denver.

by Lyn on Aug 5, 2009 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

Glad to hear some Avs fans wish Granato well…He was in a difficult circumstance but it says something to like an ex-coach, that doesn’t happen every day.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Aug 5, 2009 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions

This gave me a chance to taunt my brother (Joe@Mile High Hockey) a bit. I don’t think last year can really reflect too much on Granato – absolutely nothing went right for the Avs.

It weighs 35 pounds - unless you're hoisting it above your head.

by JDunman on Aug 5, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

he will be a great addition to the pens club.

Lifes rough, wear a helment

by lambofgad on Aug 6, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Not may Avs fans have any ill will towards Granato and many of us feel bad about the way he was finally let go this summer (the whole Roy debacle); he needed to go, but it just wasn’t handled very well. Granato needed a change as much as the rest of the Avs front office did.

Hopefully things will be better in Pitsburgh…

MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.

I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.

by Americanario on Aug 6, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions

Granato didn’t have much to work with in his last gig

But his first time around (a year and a half or so, after Bob Hartley was let go) he was given two All-Star teams. One of them blew a 3-1 lead to the Wild in the playoffs…a scenario that really brought out how poor of a coach Granato was. His inability to change the style of play after the Wild change theirs cost the Avs a legitimate shot at another Stanley Cup.

The next year Granato was given yet another All-Star team to work with. And the Sharks gave them a free lesson in how to play playoff hockey. If it wasn’t for Joe Sakic’s OT heroics…the Sharks would have literally embarrassed them

Then Granato took over the Power Play and Penalty Kill under Joel Quenneville, and his style was different from every Power Play in the league…and he kept that style last year, and even when healthy, the Avs couldn’t score on a Power Play.

The way he was let go was an embarrassment…but granato simply wasn’t a good coach. I hope he does better with the Pens. Just keep him away from your special teams

by chiavsfan on Aug 7, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions