Don Granato

Don Granato
Granato in April 2022
Born	(1967-08-11) August 11, 1967 (age 57) Downers Grove, Illinois, U.S.
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight	170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Position	Center
Shot	Right
Played for	Columbus Chill
Coached for	Buffalo Sabres
NHL draft	Undrafted
Playing career	1991–1993
Coaching career	1993–2024

Donald Granato (born August 11, 1967) is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player who most recently served as the head coach of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

After two years playing with the then named Madison Capitals of the United States Hockey League (USHL), Granato was recruited to play for the University of Wisconsin and played there for four years, winning a national title in the 1989–90 season. During his last year with the team in 1990–91, he served as team's captain.[1] After college he played for two years with the Columbus Chill of the ECHL before retiring as player in order to move into coaching.[1]

Coaching career

Granato served as head coach of the Green Bay Gamblers and Wisconsin Capitols of the United States Hockey League (USHL) from 1993 to 1997, where he led the Gamblers to the league finals.[2] He was then hired by the Columbus Chill of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) in 1997 and then Peoria Rivermen in 1999. He won the Kelly Cup as a coach in 2000 with the Peoria Rivermen and was then promoted to head coach of the Worcester IceCats of the American Hockey League (AHL).[1] During the 2000–01 AHL season, Granato won the Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award as the most outstanding coach of the AHL.[2] After five seasons with the IceCats, he was promoted to an assistant coach with their National Hockey League (NHL) affiliate, the St. Louis Blues. In 2008, he became head coach of the Chicago Wolves of the AHL but was released in 2009 after seven games.[2][1]

From 2013 to 2016, he was head coach of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program. In March 2016, Granato assumed an assistant coaching position under his brother, Tony, with the Wisconsin Badgers men's ice hockey team.[3] On June 15, 2017, he became an assistant coach, along with Ulf Samuelsson, under Joel Quenneville of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks.[4]

In 2019, he was hired as an assistant coach of the Buffalo Sabres.[5] On March 17, 2021, Granato became the interim head coach of the Buffalo Sabres, replacing the fired Ralph Krueger.[6][7] Granato posted a 9–16–3 record in 28 games with the Sabres to finish off the 2020–21 season head coach. The interim tag was removed on June 29.[8]

On April 16, 2024, Granato was fired by the Sabres after the team failed to make the playoffs for the 13th consecutive season.[9]

Head coaching record

NHL

Team	Year	Regular season							Postseason Gii historic Result
BUF	2020–21	28	9	16	3	(21)	8th in East	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
BUF	2021–22	82	32	39	11	75	5th in Atlantic	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
BUF	2022–23	82	42	33	7	91	5th in Atlantic	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
BUF	2023–24	82	39	37	6	84	6th in Atlantic	—	—	—	Missed playoffs
Total		274	122	125	27			—	—	—

Personal life

Granato currently serves as an analyst for NHL Network Radio on SiriusXM.[10]

Granato is the brother of Cammi and Tony, and the brother-in-law of Ray Ferraro.[11]

References

1. "Granato named Sabres' interim head coach". ECHL.com. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
2. Hoppe, Bill (March 18, 2021). "Don Granato takes over Sabres with coaching search underway". Buffalo Hockey Beat. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
3. "NCAA Hockey: Wisconsin announces head coach Tony Granato and staff". NCAA.com. March 30, 2016. Archived from the original on June 19, 2018. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
4. Hine, Chris (June 15, 2017). "Blackhawks hire Don Granato, Ulf Samuelsson as assistant coaches". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved May 28, 2018.
5. "Sabres, Amerks announce coaching staff update". theahl.com. October 1, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
6. Ryndak, Chris (March 17, 2021). "Granato named Sabres interim head coach". NHL.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
7. "A look at Sabres' coaching carousel during Pegula era". The Buffalo News. March 17, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
8. "Sabres name Don Granato head coach". Buffalo Sabres. June 29, 2021.
9. "Granato fired as Sabres coach, no replacement named". NHL.com. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
10. Radio, SiriusXM NHL Network (October 3, 2024). "SiriusXM NHL Network Radio returns with extensive live coverage of the 2024-25 NHL season". SiriusXM Canada Blog. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
11. Cowan, Stu (September 4, 2019). "Wisconsin hockey a family affair for Canadiens prospect Cole Caufield". montrealgazette. Retrieved March 18, 2021.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
• Coaching profile at Eliteprospects.com
• Don Granato new head coach for Wolves

Preceded by Ralph Krueger

Head coach of the Buffalo Sabres 2021–2024

Succeeded by Lindy Ruff