New York – On the Avalanche’s previous two trips to Madison Square Garden, Tony Granato was the former Rangers player in a position of prominence on the opposing bench – as Colorado’s head coach.
Granato was in demand for interviews and hand-shaking, and he did more than renew acquaintances with many grizzled folks who have been Big Apple hockey regulars since Toots Shor’s was the postgame hangout.
This time, when the Avalanche beat the Rangers 2-1 at the Garden on Sunday, Granato was an assistant.
He is like a young actor who landed a lead role in a David Mamet play a few blocks north on Broadway, but after the production closed had to return to playing a part identified only as “Guy in Bar.”
That’s the perception, anyway.
When Joel Quenneville’s July 2004 hiring as head coach began to leak out, the initial dispatches portrayed it as a conventional, one-guy-hired, another-fired coaching change.
Surely, the assumptions went, Granato at best would be stepping into a scouting or ancillary role.
When the Avalanche instead announced that Granato was returning to an assistant coach’s spot after nearly two full seasons as head coach, many eyebrows were raised.
Including mine.
How could Granato work with the man brought in to replace him?
So far, if there is tension between Quenneville and his predecessor, it hasn’t been evident.
“We haven’t had one issue at all,” Quenneville said. “I didn’t know Tony, but everyone who spoke of him told me what a quality guy I was going to be working with. Last year, being around him during the lockout, it was a nice transition period, for us at least. It’s been very smooth.”
Granato’s refusal to interpret the change as an insult is at the heart of the apparent harmony. He seems to be enjoying the return to the assistant’s role – a role he shares with his brother, Don, the first-year assistant to Mike Kitchen with the St. Louis Blues.
After Granato took over from Bob Hartley in December 2002, the Avalanche had a glittery 72-33-17-11 regular-season record. However, in 2003, the Avs collapsed against Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs, and the next year, they knocked off Dallas in the first round before losing to San Jose.
“Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed every second of it,” said Granato, still only 41.
“Joel is making the final decisions, but it’s the same thing as a coaching staff. You’re still trying to accomplish the same goals.
“I’m able to spend an extra half-hour on the ice, whereas before I would go meet with the media and do other things you don’t have to do as an assistant. So there’s more opportunity to do one-on-one coaching and more opportunity to break down video.”
Colorado general manager Pierre Lacroix broached the subject of a Quenneville hiring after the departure of assistant coach Rick Tocchet, who wasn’t getting along with Granato. At that point, Granato was smart enough to infer that he had little choice.
Lacroix’s genuine affection for Granato enabled him to credibly soften the blow – and, in fact, to present it as something other than a criticism of his work as head coach.
“To this day I agree it was a no-brainer to bring in the best possible person and adjust as need be,” Granato said. “I’ve learned a lot from Joel, and what he’s brought to this organization is something we didn’t have. I’m getting better each day by being around him.”
Granato has a right to be resentful of the widespread whispers that he was in over his head as a head coach. Some of the coaching retreads who were doing the whispering were both jealous of him getting the opportunity, and owners of career winning percentages – albeit often with less-talented rosters – that weren’t even close to Granato’s.
“Do you learn more as you go along?” he asked. “Absolutely. If somewhere down the road, would I be better prepared with what I learned from Joel and being around the organization? For sure.
“But I think I was the best one for that position at that time. We were going the wrong way. A change needed to be made and someone needed to be brought in who could rally the troops and get the team going.
“I think we played as well as any team in the league for the last 50 games (in 2002-03). So, yes, I was ready and I was fortunate to get that opportunity.”
Someday, he might get another one.
Staff writer Terry Frei can be reached at 303-820-1895 or tfrei@denverpost.com.
