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| Tony Granato | |
|---|---|
| Name | Tony Granato |
| Birth date | 3 March 1964 |
| Birth place | Downers Grove, Illinois |
| Height in | 10 |
| Weight lb | 185 |
| Position | Left wing |
| Shoots | Right |
| Played for | New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, Colorado Avalanche |
| National team | United States |
| Draft | 120th overall, 1982 NHL Entry Draft |
| Career start | 1985 |
| Career end | 1999 |
| Coaching career | 2000–2021 |
Tony Granato is an American former professional ice hockey player and coach known for his scoring touch, aggressive play, and long association with University of Wisconsin–Madison and the Colorado Avalanche organization. A productive National Hockey League forward in the late 1980s and 1990s, he later served in coaching roles at collegiate, Olympic, and NHL levels, including head coach stints and assistant positions. Granato's career intersects with prominent figures and institutions in North American and international ice hockey, linking him to multiple Stanley Cup–contending clubs and Olympic competitions.
Born in Downers Grove, Illinois and raised near Madison, Wisconsin, Granato developed through Midwest youth hockey circuits and high school competition in the Wisconsin system. He played NCAA Division I hockey for the Wisconsin Badgers at University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he competed in the WCHA against programs such as Minnesota Golden Gophers, North Dakota Fighting Hawks, and Boston College during the early 1980s. At Wisconsin he was coached by Bob Johnson and later played with teammates who advanced to the NHL Entry Draft, creating a pipeline to professional organizations like New York Rangers and Detroit Red Wings. His college performance attracted attention from NHL scouts, leading to his selection in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Rangers.
Granato debuted in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers in the mid-1980s, skating on lines that opposed clubs such as the Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Blackhawks. He developed into a goal scorer and agitator, recording multiple 20-plus goal seasons while teammates included Adam Graves, Mark Messier, and Brian Leetch at different points. In the 1991–92 season he was traded to the San Jose Sharks, joining a young franchise coached by George Kingston and competing in the Pacific Division against the Los Angeles Kings and Calgary Flames. He later signed with the Detroit Red Wings, linking him to figures like Scotty Bowman and prospects from the American Hockey League, before returning to his hometown region to join the Colorado Avalanche franchise following relocation from Quebec Nordiques.
With the Avalanche, Granato achieved some of his most notable success, partnering with stars such as Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Adam Foote during playoff runs that included opponents like the St. Louis Blues and Dallas Stars. His playing career was punctuated by injuries, including a significant concussion that affected his later seasons and influenced his retirement decision in 1999. Over his NHL tenure he amassed totals that placed him among the era's consistent scorers, facing league leaders like Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
Granato represented the United States men's national ice hockey team in multiple tournaments, including the Ice Hockey World Championships and the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. He competed alongside and against international players from Canada, Russia, Finland, and Czech Republic. His Olympic appearance connected him with NHL players from around the world, contributing experience to Team USA rosters that included members of the United States national junior ice hockey team pipeline and veterans linked to the IIHF events.
Following retirement, Granato transitioned to coaching, beginning with assistant and head coaching roles at the collegiate level with the Wisconsin Badgers program and later joining the Colorado Avalanche as an assistant coach under head coaches like Joel Quenneville and —note: linking prohibited per instructions—. He served as head coach of the Avalanche during the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, directing teams contending with the Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks in divisional play. Granato also held assistant coaching positions with the United States men's national ice hockey team for international tournaments, collaborated with Olympic staffs, and worked in development roles within NHL systems.
In 2016 he became head coach at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, succeeding program staff linked to the Big Ten Conference realignment era; there he coached student-athletes who faced programs like Michigan and Ohio State. He later returned to the NHL as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche organization, contributing to player development and special teams work until health concerns and personal decisions affected his tenure.
Granato is part of a prominent hockey family: his brothers include Don Granato and Cammi Granato, both of whom are notable figures in ice hockey—Don as a coach and Cammi as a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee and captain of the United States women's national ice hockey team. The Granato family has ties to Madison, Wisconsin and has been involved in youth hockey development and community programs connected to organizations such as local USA Hockey associations and collegiate alumni networks. Tony has experienced publicized personal challenges related to health and recovery, drawing support from NHL alumni networks, former teammates, and professional organizations including the National Hockey League Players' Association.
Granato's legacy includes recognition for his scoring ability, coaching contributions, and role in American ice hockey development. He has been celebrated by University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni, former NHL teammates, and hockey historians for bridging college and professional pathways during the 1980s and 1990s. Honors associated with his career include team-based achievements in the Stanley Cup era with the Colorado Avalanche organization and selection to represent the United States on the international stage at the Winter Olympics. His family’s collective honors—such as Cammi Granato’s induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame—also underscore the Granato impact on North American ice hockey.
Category:American ice hockey left wingers Category:National Hockey League coaches Category:University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni