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.