Don Granato coaching Auston Matthews as a teenager makes him the smartest Toronto sleeper candidate
Photo credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Auston Matthews could be thriving again if the Maple Leafs were to go outside the box and bring in his old teenage coach Don Granato who's got quite the resume.
With all the talk about who should be coaching the Maple Leafs next year, there is no doubt that it cannot be Craig Berube again. He's completely changed the team into a slow, plodding mess that doesn't have the capability to playing his system; and he neutered Auston Matthews.
If the team wants to get back on track they are going to need their captain to have more than enough support to get him to the level he was once at, but beyond just giving him players he actually needs a coach who can utilize him.
There's been discussions about bringing in a new name like Manny Malhotra to help run things, as his patience, preparation and player development skills are quickly earning him a lot of attention.
Matthews' Mafia: Why Don Granato could help lead the Maple Leafs
But there's one name that Matthews is more than familiar with who could certainly make a big difference — and he just so happens to be part of a pretty important hockey family.
Don Granato, Matthews' former coach as a teenager in the US Development Program, could be a dark horse candidate to bring success back to the Maple Leafs and he's been vital to ensuring the future of Team USA's future.
Granato was the 2000-01 AHL Coach of the Year, and has also won The Clark Cup with the USHL, a silver and gold medal at the U18's, and a World Championship bronze in 2017.
He's been a trusted coach wherever he's been be that the NCAA, NHL, internationally; it doesn't matter he's found success. Plus, he comes from a lineage filled to the brim with notable names.
His sister is Cammi Granato, one of the first women inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and a US hockey legend. His brother Tony was a long-time NHLer who transitioned into coaching and spent 14 years as either an NHL assistant or head coach and now leads the University of Wisconsin.
He's also the brother-in-law of Ray Ferraro, so the hockey powerhouse doesn't stop just through blood. Granato is as serious as candidate as anyone with the credentials and experience to back it up.
Could Granato be the key to unlocking Matthews' potential again?
Granato was coach of Matthews during his time with the U17 and U18's in 2013-14, and 2014-15 where he found some incredible success. He also helped oversee Matthews transition from North America to Switzerland, a moment seemingly lost in time.
But he knows exactly what Matthews is capable of and what he needs to succeed. He'll give him every opportunity to score and not be burdened with heavy PK and defensive minutes.
Plus there's something to be said about adding in a name with such prestige behind the bench. If Matthews wants proof the team is serious about him then bringing in his old coach would certainly do the trick.
If the Maple Leafs really want to throw a wrench into things and bring in someone who could make a difference, adding in Don Granato could not only unlock their captain once again but simply be a huge improvement over Craig Berube — bar none.
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