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| 1982 NHL DRAFT PICK |
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Tony Granato
Selected in
sixth round
No. 120 overall by New York Rangers
Born
July 25, 1964
 | Position:
Center
Height: 5-10 Weight: 185
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| BEFORE THE DRAFT |
Last Team:
Northwood School (New York H.S.)
Birthplace:
Hinsdale, Illinois (USA)
Hometown: Downers Grove, Illinois |
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| PRE-DRAFT
STATISTICS | | Year |
Team | League |
GP | G |
A | TP |
PIM | | 1981-82 |
Northwood | N.Y. H.S. |
-- | -- |
-- | -- |
-- |
|
PRE-DRAFT AWARDS AND HONORS
Miscellaneous: Grew up in Chicago suburbs idolizing Black Hawks star Stan
Mikita. He wore No. 21 throughout much of his college, international and
professional hockey career in honor of Mikita. |
| NHL CAREER |
Debut: October 6, 1988 (N.Y. Rangers at
Chicago)
Numbers: 39, 18 (N.Y. Rangers); 14, 21
(Los Angeles); 21 (San Jose)
Stanley Cup: Never won.
Playing Status:
Retired October 19, 2001 |
| CAREER NHL STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1988-2001 |
NYR, L.A., San Jose | 773 |
248 | 244 |
492 | 1,425 |
|
| CAREER NHL PLAYOFF STATISTICS | | Years |
Teams | GP |
G | A |
TP | PIM | | 1989-2001 |
NYR, L.A., San Jose | 79 |
16 | 27 |
43 | 141 |
|
NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
Masterton Trophy: 1996-97 (San Jose)
Hockey News Comeback Player of Year: 1996-97 (San Jose)
NHL All-Rookie Team: 1988-89 (N.Y. Rangers)
All-Star Game: 1997 (San Jose)
Stanley Cup Finals (Lost):
1993 (Los Angeles)
N.Y. Rangers Rookie of Year: 1988-89 (co-winner with Brian Leetch)
N.Y. Rangers McDonald Award (Extra Effort): 1988-89
N.Y.
Rangers Good Guy Award (Media Vote): 1988-89
Los Angeles Most Inspirational Player: 1991-92, 1995-96
Los Angeles Community Service Award: 1992-93 (shared), 1995
N.Y. Rangers Records: Most goals by a rookie in one season (36 in
1988-89), most shorthanded goals by a rookie in one season (4 in 1988-89),
most hat tricks by a rookie in one season (3 in 1988-89)
Los Angeles Records:
Most points in one playoff game (5 vs. Calgary on April 10, 1990, shares
record), most goals in one playoff game (3 vs. Calgary on April 10, 1990,
shares record), most game-winning goals in one playoff series (2 vs. Calgary
in 1990, shares record)
N.Y. Rangers Goals
Leader: 1988-89 (36)
Los Angeles Goals
Leader: 1991-92 (39)
Los Angeles Playoffs Goals
Leader: 1990 (5, tie)
Los Angeles Playoffs Assists
Leader: 1992 (5, tie)
Coaching
Career: Named Colorado assistant coach on June 18, 2002, and remained in
that position until Dec. 18, 2002. ... Named Colorado head coach on Dec. 18,
2002, and remained in position until July 7, 2004. ... Named Colorado
assistant coach on July 7, 2004, and remained in that position through
2006-07 season.
Broadcasting
Career: Named San Jose radio color commentator on Oct. 19, 2001, and
remained in that position until June 18, 2002.
Miscellaneous: Was first player from Northwood School to be drafted
directly out of high school by an NHL team. ... Shifted from natural
position of center to right wing during his first NHL season. He would play
as both a right wing and left wing for the remainder of his pro career. ...
Played his first NHL game in Chicago Stadium, a short drive from his
hometown of Downers Grove, Ill. ... Named NHL Rookie of Month for January
1989. ... Missed part of 1988-89 season with bruised foot, an injury
suffered in February 1989. ... Led N.Y. Rangers with plus-17 rating in
1988-89. ... Led all NHL rookies with 36 goals in 1988-89. ... Was finalist
for 1988-89 Calder Trophy. ... Missed part of 1989-90 season with pulled
groin, suffered during N.Y. Rangers' Dec. 20, 1989, game vs. Buffalo. ...
Scored goal in his first game with Los Angeles, on Jan. 25, 1990, at
Edmonton. ... Missed part of 1989-90 season with re-aggravation of pulled
groin, an injury suffered during Los Angeles' Jan. 25, 1990, game at
Edmonton. He did not return to action until Los Angeles' Feb. 21, 1990, game
vs. Minnesota. ... Missed part of 1989-90 season with knee injury, suffered
during Los Angeles' March 20, 1990, game at Edmonton. ... Scored first
shorthanded overtime goal in Los Angeles Kings history when he achieved feat
at 8:37 of OT in Game 3 of first-round series vs. Calgary on April 8, 1990.
... Played on line with Wayne Gretzky for Los Angeles in 1990-91. ... Had
assist on Wayne Gretzky's 2,000th career point in Los Angeles' Oct. 26,
1990, game at Winnipeg. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with torn rib
cartilage, an injury suffered in Los Angeles' Dec. 18, 1990, game at
Edmonton. He did not return to action until Los Angeles' Jan. 10, 1991, game
vs. Buffalo. ... Missed part of 1990-91 season with the unspecified illness,
contracted in February 1991. ... Missed part of 1992-93 season with strained
back, an injury suffered during Los Angeles' Oct. 6, 1992, season-opener at Calgary.
... Led Los Angeles with 77 shots on goal during 1993 playoffs when
Kings went to Stanley Cup Finals. ... Missed parts of 1993-94 season with
strained back, an injury suffered during Los Angeles' Dec. 4, 1993, game vs.
Tampa Bay, and re-aggravated during Los Angeles' Dec. 13, 1993, game at
Ottawa. After re-aggravating the injury, he did not return to action until
Los Angeles' Jan. 4, 1994, game vs. Quebec. ... Missed remainder of 1993-94
season with strained back, suffered during Los Angeles' April 3,
1994, game vs. Edmonton. ... Missed part of 1995 season with strained hip
flexor, an injury suffered in Los Angeles' March 13, 1995, game at
Toronto. ... Missed remainder of 1995 season with broken foot, an injury
suffered when he was hit in the skate by Rob Blake's slap shot during Los
Angeles' April 6, 1995, game vs. Dallas. ... Signed with San Jose as a
Group III unrestricted free agent on Aug. 15, 1996. ... Tied San Jose
single-game record (since broken) with nine shots on goal on Dec. 17, 1996,
vs. Toronto. ... Missed parts of 1996-97 season with the flu, contracted in
December 1996, and with sore back, an injury suffered during San Jose's Jan.
27, 1997, game at Vancouver. ... Named as starter for 1997 NHL All-Star Game
at San Jose in tribute to his recovery from brain surgery. ... Suspended
three games and fined $1,000 by NHL for cross-checking Dimitri Khristich at
the end of San Jose's fight-filled Feb. 5, 1997, game vs. Los Angeles.
Granato received a game misconduct and automatic suspension for attempting
to injure Khristich. ... Set San Jose single-season record
(since broken) with 231 shots on goal in 1996-97. ... Won Victor Award as
NHL Comeback Player of the Year for 1996-97. ... Was San Jose's nominee for
1996-97 King Clancy Trophy. ... Became first San Jose player to win a major
NHL award when he won Masterton Trophy for 1996-97. ... Missed nearly a
quarter of 1997-98 season with broken jaw, an injury suffered in San Jose's Nov.
1, 1997, game at St. Louis. He did not return until San Jose's
Dec. 16, 1997, game vs. Detroit. ... Suspended two games and fined $1,000 by
NHL for high-sticking and tripping Dan McGillis during San Jose's Jan. 23,
1998, game vs. Edmonton. The suspension was announced Jan. 27, 1998. ...
Missed parts of 1998-99 season with unspecified injury, suffered during San
Jose's Nov. 21, 1998, game vs. N.Y. Rangers, and with back injury, suffered
in San Jose's Dec. 10, 1998, game at Nashville. ... Missed nearly half
of 1998-99 season with torn ACL in knee, an injury suffered during San
Jose's Jan. 11, 1999, game vs. Los Angeles. The injury required surgery, and
he did not return to action until San Jose's April 6, 1999, game at Phoenix.
... Was San Jose's nominee for 1999-00 King Clancy Trophy. ... Missed part
of 2000-01 season with head injury, suffered during San Jose's Jan. 22,
2001, game at Edmonton. ... Had surgery to repair damaged left rotator cuff
following San Jose's elimination from 2001 playoffs. ... Became a Group III
unrestricted free agent after the 2000-01 season. Initially he said he was
willing to play one more year, but hoped to remain in San Jose, which was
not willing to re-sign him. At age 37, he opted to retire and go into
broadcasting.
Granato's Big Suspension:
The NHL suspended Granato for 15 games and fined him $500 for swinging his
stick at Neil Wilkinson's head during Los Angeles' Feb. 9, 1994, game vs.
Chicago. The incident took place with 4:57 remaining in the game, which the
Kings won 4-2. Granato received a match penalty for deliberate attempt to
injure, prompting an automatic review and suspension by the NHL. On Feb. 16,
1994, the league announced Granato's suspension and fine. As a result of the
suspension, Granato lost more than $200,000 in salary. Granato took full
responsibility for the incident, saying he was "disgusted" with himself for
his behavior and felt "sick to my stomach" over what had happened. In fact,
Granato had been retaliating for an earlier hit by Wilkinson, which had
caused Granato to suffer a mild concussion. Wilkinson, who collapsed to the
ice after the retaliation slash, was not hurt, despite the force of
Granato's swing. Granato began serving his suspension on Feb. 18, and did
not return to Los Angeles' lineup until the Kings' March 15, 1994, game vs.
Ottawa.
Brain Surgery: Granato's career took a near-tragic turn
during the 1995-96 season, when he suffered a blood clot in his brain. The
injury, which ended his season after 49 games, required brain surgery on
Feb. 14, 1996. It all began in January 1996, when Granato began suffering
severe headaches. He was hospitalized on Jan. 29, 1996, and doctors ran a
CAT scan to discover the intracerebral hematoma (blood clot). The injury
resulted from Granato having fallen head-first into the boards after a
collision with Jeff Brown during Los Angeles' Jan. 25, 1996, game at
Hartford. Granato was shocked to hear that his problems were more than a
simple headache. Doctors initially thought brain surgery could be avoided if
Granato was confined to bed rest for several weeks, but he continued to
suffer the severe headaches, and another MRI showed that brain surgery would
be necessary. The operation lasted four hours, during which time Dr. Neil
Martin removed an abnormal cluster of blood vessels in the left temporal
lobe of Granato's brain. At first, it was uncertain if Granato would ever be
able to resume his career, but by the time 1996 training camp rolled around,
Granato, who signed with San Jose, was all set to play again. He received
that assurance from Martin, Sharks team doctor Art Ting and a team of brain
experts at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. |
| NON-NHL CAREER |
Post-Draft Teams:
Northwood (New York H.S.), Wisconsin (WCHA); Team USA; Colorado (IHL)
Olympics: 1988
(seventh place)
Canada Cup: 1991 (second place)
World Championships: 1985
(fourth), 1986 (sixth), 1987 (seventh)
World Junior Championships: 1983
(fifth place), 1984 (sixth place)
NON-NHL
AWARDS AND HONORS
University of Wisconsin Athletic Hall
of Fame: Inducted 2000
NCAA All-America West Second Team: 1984-85, 1986-87 (Wis.)
WCHA Student-Athlete of the Year: 1986-87 (Wisconsin)
WCHA All-Star Second Team: 1984-85, 1986-87 (Wisconsin)
WCHA All-Academic Team: 1984-85, 1985-86 (Wisconsin)
Big Ten
Academic All-Star Team: 1984-85, 1985-86 (Wisconsin)
Wisconsin
Carlson Award (MVP): 1986-87
Wisconsin Kelsey Award (Most
Competitive): 1985-86
Wisconsin
Captain: 1986-87
Education: Majored in child and
family studies at Wisconsin.
Miscellaneous: Played center
throughout college career and during his year with Team USA. ...
Played on line with Clark Donatelli and Kelly Miller at 1985 World
Championships in Prague. ... Competed in U.S. National Sports Festival in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1987. ...
Played on line with Gary Shuchuk at University of Wisconsin. ... Was finalist for
the 1986-87 Hobey Baker Award. ... One of only two Wisconsin players (with
Mark Johnson) to score 100 career goals and 200 career points. ... Left
Wisconsin in 1987 with No. 4 ranking on school's career points list (220),
No. 3 ranking on school's career goals list (100), No. 3 ranking on school's
career WCHA points list (184) and No. 2 ranking on school's career WCHA
goals list (85). ... Played for U.S. Select team at 1987 Pravda Cup
Tournament in Leningrad, Soviet Union. ... Signed with N.Y. Rangers for balance of 1987-88 season
after competing in 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. He was assigned to
Colorado (IHL), where he played only minor-league games of career. ... An
avid baseball fan, he once took batting
practice with California Angels while the team was playing in Milwaukee
during the summer of 1992. ... Worked at Chicago-based Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Hearing
Impaired during off-seasons of college and early pro career. ... Was active
in charitable causes during his playing days, including work with Athletes
Against Hunger, March of Dimes and American Hearing Impaired Hockey
Association. ... Maintained permanent off-season residence in Madison, Wis.,
during NHL career. ... Rotated with San Jose
teammate Bernie Nicholls as guest sports-talk host on San Jose radio station
during summer of 1998. ... An avid fisherman during playing days, he was part of
summer fishing club in Wisconsin. ... Worked as instructor at Granato Hockey
Camp in Plainfield, Ill., in off-seasons. His brother Rob was the camp's
director. ... Named one of WCHA's all-time Top 50 players by conference on
March 7, 2002.
Personal:
Full name is Anthony Lewis Granato. ... Older brother of United States
Olympic women's hockey player Cammi Granato. ... Older brother of former
minor-leaguer Don Granato and former college hockey player Rob Granato. ...
Cousin of minor-leaguer Kevin Granato. |
| HOW HE GOT AWAY |
| TRADE:
N.Y. Rangers traded Granato and Tomas Sandstrom to Los Angeles in exchange
for Bernie Nicholls on January 20, 1990. |
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|
SNAPSHOT '82 | | Total Selected: |
252 | | Forwards: |
152 | | Defense: |
82 | | Goaltenders: |
18 | | Major Junior: |
129 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
27/4 | | College Players: |
20 | | High School: |
37 |
| Canadian: |
152 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
62 |
| European: |
35 |
| Reached NHL: |
109 |
| Stanley Cup: |
18 | | Hall of Fame: |
0 |
| All-Star Game: |
14 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
4 |
| Olympians: |
37 |
| Picks Traded: |
50 |
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