COLUMBUS — The Columbus Blue Jackets plan to hire Don Granato as an NHL assistant coach, according to The Columbus Dispatch. Granato is expected to coordinate the power play and work with the team's forwards.

Granato, 58, served as the head coach for the U.S. men's team at the 2026 world championships. He previously worked as the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres for parts of four seasons, with the team compiling a record of 122-125-27 under his tenure before his firing in 2024. He joined the Sabres as an NHL assistant in 2019.

Blue Jackets President and General Manager Don Waddell leads the team, while Rick Bowness serves as its head coach. Trent Vogelhuber, 37, currently coordinates the penalty kill and works with defensemen for the Blue Jackets.

Granato's coaching background also includes a stint as a bench assistant with the Chicago Blackhawks from 2017 to 2019. He has experience as a head coach at both the AHL and USHL levels, and he was an assistant coach for the University of Wisconsin during the 2016-17 season. He also played for the University of Wisconsin for four seasons and has worked with the U.S. National Team Development Program's national teams. Granato played professionally in the ECHL for two seasons from 1991 to 1993, including a period with the Columbus Chill.

Granato is from Downer's Grove, Illinois. His siblings, Tony Granato and Rob Granato, also played hockey at the University of Wisconsin. His sister, Cammi Granato, was an eight-time captain of U.S. women's national teams and is in her fifth season as an assistant general manager for the Vancouver Canucks. Cammi Granato played hockey at Providence College and is married to Ray Ferraro, a former NHL forward and a lead analyst for ESPN's TV broadcasts.

Why It Matters

The addition of Don Granato to the Columbus Blue Jackets' coaching staff introduces an experienced coach with previous NHL head coaching and assistant coaching roles. His expected focus on the power play and forwards addresses specific areas of team strategy. His prior professional hockey experience, both as a player and coach across multiple levels, contributes to the team's coaching resources.