Tony Granato is new Red Wings assistant coach

Red Wings hire former player/coach to assist Babcock

DETROIT – Tony Granato is officially the newest assistant to Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock, the team announced Tuesday.

Granato is filling the vacancy left by Bill Peters, who has been named head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. The team expects Granato to run the penalty kill.

Babcock still needs another assistant after Tom Renney recently left to become the new president and CEO of Hockey Canada.

More: Red Wings headlines

About Tony Granato

Granato played 774 NHL games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks. The left winger scored 248 goals and 244 assists. He was teammates with Wayne Gretzky for many seasons.

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After his playing days, he started his coaching career as an assistant with Bob Hartley in Colorado. He was head coach for the Avalanche in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2008-09, posting an overall record of 104-78-17-16. He most recently was an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins under Dan Bylsma.

Granato's sister, Cammi Granato, captained the U.S. Women's Hockey Team for several years, most notably during the 1998 Winter Olympics when the team took home gold.

Cammi is married to former NHLer Ray Ferraro whose son, Landon Ferraro, was drafted 32nd overall by the Red Wings in 2009. Landon played 4 games with Detroit this past season. He's been with the Grand Rapids Griffins for the past few seasons and is considered a top prospect.

Water under the bridge?: Tony Granato and Babcock got into an argument while behind the benches during a game between the Red Wings and the Avalanche on Sept. 7, 2008 in Colorado. Granato was an assistant to Joel Quenneville at the time.

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