Granato’s Transition to Senior Amateur Advisor
The Vancouver Canucks have announced a change in role for Cammi Granato, who will now serve as the team’s Senior Amateur Advisor. This move was confirmed by Canucks General Manager Ryan Johnson. Granato previously held the position of Assistant General Manager for the organization.
Johnson expressed his enthusiasm for Granato’s new role, highlighting her understanding of the team’s internal operations and her existing connections with the amateur staff. He believes her contributions will be valuable in continuing the team’s work in the amateur scouting area.
Granato also shared her perspective on the transition, stating that after a period of reflection, she feels this is an opportune moment to take on a different role within the Canucks. She mentioned having had discussions with Johnson and her family regarding her position. Granato emphasized her passion for assisting on the amateur side of hockey and her excitement to continue collaborating with the hockey operations department in this capacity. She conveyed confidence in the leadership of the front office and their strategic direction for the team.
Changes in Scouting Department
Granato’s shift to an advisory role underscores ongoing changes within the Canucks‘ hockey operations department. Her previous responsibilities as an Assistant General Manager included overseeing both the amateur and pro scouting departments, as well as the player development team. She was one of three assistant general managers during the past season.
Emilie Castonguay, who was the first female Assistant General Manager in the team’s history and the second in the league, continues to manage contracts and salary caps. Ryan Johnson, now the Canucks General Manager, also served as an Assistant General Manager before his promotion.
The team has appointed Richard Seeley as the new Assistant General Manager to lead the Abbotsford operations, taking over from Johnson. However, it appears there will not be a direct replacement for Granato’s previous oversight of scouting and development. Daren Hermiston has been brought in as a director to supervise the development staff, which includes Mikael Samuelsson, Mike Komisarek, and Alex Edler.
The changes suggest that Toddy Harvey and Brett Henning may need to take on increased administrative duties related to amateur and pro scouting. While Harvey’s staff remains substantial and the recent draft class was well-regarded, Henning’s department is facing personnel shortages.
The pro scouting department, specifically, has seen several departures. Beyond the experienced contributions of Johnson and Granato being redirected, Henning’s department is now short three individuals. Dale Tallon, a former senior adviser and pro scout, did not have his contract renewed. Following the draft, Neil Komadoski, who had been with the Canucks since 2010, moved to the Buffalo Sabres to become an assistant director of pro scouting. Additionally, Jack Johnson, who joined the Canucks midseason, was hired as an assistant coach for the Ohio State women’s hockey program.
Currently, Henning’s department includes only two scouts, Lou Crawford and Brian Chapman, both of whom have extensive experience. The organization is navigating a busy period of change, and finding scouts is not typically a task undertaken at this time of year. The hope is that Johnson and Henning have already identified potential candidates to address the personnel needs within the scouting department.
Source: nhl.com
