Former two-time Avalanche coach Tony Granato stepped back into the NHL coaching ranks Wednesday after the Pittsburgh Penguins hired him as an assistant coach, general manager Ray Shero said.
Granato joins the defending Stanley Cup champions after he was fired by the Avs in June and replaced by former minor-league coach Joe Sacco. Granato directed Colorado to a 32-45-5 record last season and a last-place finish in the Western Conference.
“We are excited to have a guy who’s accomplished as much as Tony join our staff as an assistant coach,” Penguins coach Dan Bylsma said. “That experience will make him a tremendous asset to the Penguins organization.”
Granato, 45, first joined the Avs as an assistant coach in June 2002, then was named head coach in December of that year. In 2003, he led the team to a conference semifinals playoff appearance.
After being demoted to assistant coach and replaced by Joel Quenneville for three seasons between 2005-08, Granato was rehired as head coach last season.
He has a 104-78-33 regular-season record as an NHL hèad coach.
As an NHL forward, Granato played 13 seasons from 1988-2001 with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles and San Jose.
