Avs Fire Head Coach Hartley
Tony Granato Becomes Head Coach
POSTED: 4:15 p.m. MST December 18, 2002
UPDATED: 6:30 p.m. MST December 18, 2002
DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche have fired head coach Bob Hartley.
Hartley was replaced by assistant coach Tony Granato (pictured, left), 7NEWS reported.
General manager Pierre Lacroix informed the team of the firing earlier today.
"Today I decided to make a decision in order to move forward
with a situation where I felt the team was not performing at the level it should," Lacroix said at a news conference. "I told Bob Hartley he would no longer be a part of the organization."
The Avs, who won the Stanley Cup just two years ago, have struggled the most at home this season, winning just three of 15 games.
The team is 10-8-9-4 this season after tying the Capitals on Monday. The once-shining star of the NHL is closer to the bottom of the Northwest Division standings than they would have liked.
And that must have been uncomfortable for Hartley.
Hartley was introduced as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche on June 2, 1998, becoming the 11th head coach in franchise history. In his four seasons as head coach, Hartley recorded more wins (183) than any other previous coach, leading the Avalanche to four consecutive Northwest Division titles and Western Conference Finals appearances, and the Stanley Cup in 2001.
Hartley was the first NHL coach since 1967 to take his club to the conference finals in his first four seasons with one team.
Granato, 38, was named an assistant coach in June 2002. His own playing career spanned 13 seasons in the National Hockey League. He skated in 773 regular season games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.
During his tenure in the NHL, Granato posted 248 goals and 244 assists. At the time of his retirement after the 2000-01 season, he ranked 81st on the top-100 active points leaders list and 56th on the top-100 active goal scorers roster.
Hartley was replaced by assistant coach Tony Granato (pictured, left), 7NEWS reported.
General manager Pierre Lacroix informed the team of the firing earlier today.
"Today I decided to make a decision in order to move forward
with a situation where I felt the team was not performing at the level it should," Lacroix said at a news conference. "I told Bob Hartley he would no longer be a part of the organization."
The Avs, who won the Stanley Cup just two years ago, have struggled the most at home this season, winning just three of 15 games.
The team is 10-8-9-4 this season after tying the Capitals on Monday. The once-shining star of the NHL is closer to the bottom of the Northwest Division standings than they would have liked.
And that must have been uncomfortable for Hartley.
Hartley was introduced as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche on June 2, 1998, becoming the 11th head coach in franchise history. In his four seasons as head coach, Hartley recorded more wins (183) than any other previous coach, leading the Avalanche to four consecutive Northwest Division titles and Western Conference Finals appearances, and the Stanley Cup in 2001.
Hartley was the first NHL coach since 1967 to take his club to the conference finals in his first four seasons with one team.
Granato, 38, was named an assistant coach in June 2002. His own playing career spanned 13 seasons in the National Hockey League. He skated in 773 regular season games with the New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.
During his tenure in the NHL, Granato posted 248 goals and 244 assists. At the time of his retirement after the 2000-01 season, he ranked 81st on the top-100 active points leaders list and 56th on the top-100 active goal scorers roster.
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