Hall of Famer Cammi Granato named Vancouver Canucks’ assistant GM

Posted February 9, 2022 6:27 pm.

Last Updated February 10, 2022 1:39 pm.

Hockey Hall of Famer Cammi Granato has joined the Vancouver Canucks as assistant general manager.

The club confirmed Granato’s hire on Thursday, as was previously reported by Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman.

Granato, a two-time Olympic medalist for the U.S. including gold at the 1998 Nagano games, was a pro scout for new cross-border rivals the Seattle Kraken.

“It’s a dream to have an opportunity like this in the city that I call home, and with an exciting young team with championship aspirations,” said Granato.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Granato said she’s hardly slept over the past week.

“A lot of nights thinking about the job and how it would all work.”

She says her work with the Kraken was been a tremendous experience.

“Immersing myself in learning the league, learning the players, building a database for Seattle, watching games over and over, writing thousands of reports, sitting in on scouting meetings, sitting in with the management team, listening, watching learning. All of that prepped me for walking into this role.”

Hearing Hockey Hall-of- Famer Cammi Granato will be joining the Vancouver Canucks front office, as AGM. Granato, who was scouting for the Kraken, released her new book, “I Can Play, Too” last week.

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 10, 2022

She adds over the course of her time with the Kraken, she scouted the Canucks, which helped her learn a lot about the team.

“The Pacific Division was one I honed in on. I did a lot of scouting here [in Vancouver] because I do live here. That helps a lot,” she said.

“We have a young, skilled base of young players. I think our job is to build a championship team, and that’s what we’ll be focusing on.”

The 50-year-old played in every World Championship from its inauguration in 1990 up until 2004. She announced her retirement from hockey in 2005.

“I’m a hockey player. I always defined myself as a hockey player growing up. It was other people who defined me as a girl trying to play a man’s game. I’m used to that sort of view.”

Granato was inducted into the International Hockey of Fame in 2008, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 and finally the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Cammi is a tremendous leader and has earned the respect of the hockey world. She has a great mind for the game and experience and influence at all levels,” said Jim Rutherford, President of Hockey Operations with the club.

“In her role, Cammi will oversee our player development department and our amateur and pro scouting department. Cammi’s input will also be included in all areas of hockey operations as we leverage the diverse opinions and experience of our new leadership group to build a winning team.”

On her leadership philosophy:

"A team-first mentality.

"I think I'm good at analyzing people and what their needs are.

"Pressure situations, being a captain, going to the Olympics, I can draw on those as well."

— Sandra Prusina (@sprusina) February 10, 2022

Granato is the third woman hired to a Canucks front office position in 2022. She joins former player agent Emilie Castonguay, named assistant general manager on Jan. 24 and Rachel Doerrie — who will work as an analyst in the team’s analytics department.

“For sure, it’s a really big day to have two women in management on one team. It just goes to show Jim’s vision of diversity, getting different voices, different people’s experiences and draw them together. It’s something to celebrate,” Granato said.

“On the other hand, maybe this conversation will change in 10 years [and] it won’t be a big deal. Or in five years, it won’t be a big deal, when other teams do the same and follow suit.”