For those wondering how a blast from the past is going to help out, just take a look at the stats.

With the announcement of new head coach Tony Granato, the Avs can now start to prepare for next year from the top down.

Granato, who last lead the Avs bench from 2002-04, has been serving as an assistant since then. According to the team and Granato, in 2004, the team was missing an assistant yet the organization knew they had to bring other personnel in. The decision that was made was that Joel Quenneville would be hired as head coach and Granato would take a step back. It was made very clear at the press conference that there was no firing and that both sides had agreed it was better for the franchise.

Seems odd right? How often in our egotistical sports culture does a man put his franchise over his career and his pride. Well, it happened and I think the Avs are lucky Granato stayed aboard.

Colorado Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere praised Granato at Thursday’s press conference speaking to his character and coaching ability. And he wanted to make one thing clear.

“(Tony) was my first choice.”

Part of Giguere’s job is to find the best coaching candidate. He obviously had to interview a few coaches. Heck, even Patrick Roy was thrown into head coaching mix, though no official comment was made. But the process didn’t last long which really reinforces Giguere’s notion that Granato was his choice all along.

And why not?
Under Granato, the Avalanche compiled a record of 72-33-17-11, which ranks first in franchise history based on points percentage (.647).  He also commands a .605 career winning percentage as an NHL head coach (72-44-17), the second highest in franchise history. 

Very few people know the exact reason why most felt Granato would be best serving under Quenneville in 2004. Whatever the reason, the Avs clearly had good reason to give him another shot, and a well deserved one. It appears he has the full support of Giguere now (who wasn’t with the franchise during Granato’s first stint).
“Tony has gained tremendous coaching experience over the last five seasons behind the Avalanche bench,” Giguere said while announcing Granato as the 11th coach in franchise history. “He has a great work ethic and knowledge of our organizational depth chart. He’s shown that he really cares about the success of our players.”

Which then leads to the next point: building from the top down. Now that the head guy is in place, the Avs certainly have work to do. Aside from the fact that the team will need to pursue an assistant coach and lock down a number of players, the goals will be the same. As CHI has noted time and time again, Avs fans are lucky to have a franchise dedicated to the same thing every year.

“Our goal as a team will remain the same. We will provide the fans with an exciting, up-tempo brand of hockey that they have been accustomed to seeing,” Granato said when introduced. “As far as the standards that have been set since the team arrived here in Colorado 13 years ago, our goal will remain the same as well: to put a product on the ice that is exciting and capable of winning a Stanley Cup every single year.”

But in order to do that, this team will need to improve in a variety of categories. While often considered a very offensive team, it was no secret that the Avs performed very poorly on the power play. And as some of the veterans get older, the younger leaders of this team will have to step up.

Granato realizes all of this. If the goal is to win the Cup, improvements must/will be made.

“I think in the hockey world you try to get better everyday. It’s the same thing that I expect from our team next year. When we start the season, I expect us to be better the next day. I think everyone in their profession wants to be better the next day or the next time around. That’s the way I feel. I’m confident and excited about this opportunity.”

Joe Sakic might be as well. Before the press conference Granato got a brief congrats from Sakic. It’s yet to be determined whether the face of the franchise will return but a new spark from the bench may be just the thing he needs.

We’re all hoping a blast from the past is exactly what this franchise needs.