Granato, 49, has served as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Penguins for the past five seasons (2009-14), guiding the team’s defense (2.49 goals against per game, 10th) and penalty killing (85.0 percent, fifth) to top-10 finishes in the NHL during the 2013-14 campaign. Granato also served on Dan Bylsma’s Team USA coaching staff at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Prior to his time in Pittsburgh, Granato had two stints as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche (2002-04, 2008-09), compiling a 104-78-17-16 regular-season record over 215 games as a head coach, with two postseason appearances and one Northwest Division title. He also served as an assistant coach for the Avalanche for parts of four seasons (2002-03, 2005-08).

A veteran of 773 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks, Granato totaled 492 points (248-244-492) and 1,425 penalty minutes over his 13 seasons (1988-01). He was a member of the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1989 and was the recipient of the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1997. The Downers Grove, Ill., native also represented the United States internationally at the 1983 and 1984 World Junior Championships, the 1985, 1986 and 1987 World Championships and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, totaling 36 points (14-22-36) and 44 penalty minutes in 46 international contests. He appeared in 152 games at the University of Wisconsin from 1983-87 prior to his professional career, notching 220 points (100-120-220) and 242 penalty minutes.