Granato’s New Role
Cammi Granato has transitioned from her role as assistant general manager to become a Senior Amateur Advisor for the Vancouver Canucks. This change was announced by General Manager Ryan Johnson on Friday. Granato had served as assistant general manager for parts of five seasons.
Granato expressed that after reflecting, she feels this is the opportune moment to move into a new position with the Canucks. She mentioned having thoughtful discussions with Johnson and her family regarding her role within the organization. Her passion for the amateur side of hockey operations was highlighted, and she looks forward to continuing her work with the department.
Johnson stated his excitement about Granato moving into the Senior Amateur Advisor position. He described Granato as a quality individual with extensive knowledge of the organization’s internal workings. Johnson also noted her established relationships and connections with the amateur staff, which he believes will contribute to continued positive work in that area.
Front Office Changes and Granato’s Background
Granato was initially hired in February 2022 by former president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford, who stepped down from his position in May. Before joining the Canucks, Granato made history as the NHL’s first female scout with the Seattle Kraken.
The Canucks have seen significant changes within their front office. These include the hiring of Johnson as GM and franchise icons Henrik and Daniel Sedin as co-presidents of hockey operations. These changes followed the team finishing last in the overall NHL standings last season.
Granato has a distinguished career in hockey. She captained the U.S. women’s hockey team that secured a gold medal at the 1998 Nagano Olympics after defeating Canada. In 2010, Granato, alongside Canada’s Angela James, became one of the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Granato expressed confidence in the current front office leadership group, praising their vision and the direction they are taking the team. She is thrilled to continue contributing to the hockey operations department in her new capacity.
Impact on Scouting Department
Granato’s shift highlights ongoing changes within the Canucks’ hockey operations department. In the past season, she was one of three assistant general managers, overseeing both amateur and pro scouting departments, as well as the player development team. Emilie Castonguay, who was the first female AGM in team history and the second in league history, continues to manage contracts and salary caps. Johnson also served as an AGM before his promotion to GM.
Richard Seeley has taken over the Abbotsford operation as the new AGM, succeeding Johnson. While Daren Hermiston has been appointed as a director to oversee the development staff, a direct replacement for Granato’s comprehensive oversight of scouting and development does not appear to be planned. This suggests that Toddy Harvey and Brett Henning may take on additional responsibilities in amateur and pro scouting.
The pro scouting department, specifically under Henning, is facing personnel challenges. Beyond the transitions of Johnson and Granato, the department is down three scouts. Dale Tallon, a former senior adviser and pro scout, had his contract expire. Following the draft, Neil Komadoski, who had been with the Canucks since 2010, moved to the Buffalo Sabres as assistant director of pro scouting. Additionally, Jack Johnson, who joined the Canucks midseason, was hired by the Ohio State women’s hockey program as an assistant coach. Currently, Henning’s department includes only two scouts, Lou Crawford and Brian Chapman, both with extensive experience.
The organization is actively working to address these staffing needs, particularly as finding scouts is not typically a mid-season activity. The goal is to ensure the team has adequate personnel to track players and support the ongoing rebuild.
Source: sportsnet.ca
Chloe Tremblay is the Sports Reporter at CasinoNews, covering basketball, tennis and athletics with nine years of reporting experience. She reported on the Raptors' rise and two Olympic cycles. She holds a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. Based in Montreal, she plays recreational basketball and follows track athletics. “The best stories come from the athletes everyone overlooks.”
