Tony Granato, the brother of Sabres coach Don Granato, announced Sunday night on social media that he has been diagnosed with a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and will begin treatment this week.
Tony Granato said in a statement that he would step up away from his duties with NBC Sports Chicago and Blackhawks broadcasts, along with his work on the NHL Network.Â
— Tony Granato (@TonyGranato) December 11, 2023
He ended his message with, "With the holiday season here, cherish your time with your loved ones, as I know I will."
Granato was fired as the University of Wisconsin coach in March and embarked on a career as a TV analyst. He remained based in Madison, but also has had time to travel, including a visit with the Sabres.Â
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Don Granato, 56, is three years younger than Tony and was a member of Tony's coaching staff at Wisconsin before joining the the Blackhawks as an assistant coach and eventually moving to the Sabres' staff in 2019.
Don Granato had his own bout with cancer in March, 2005, taking a leave of absence from his role as the coach of the AHL's Worcester IceCats when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Don Granato completed treatment five months later and continued his coaching career the next season as an assistant with the St. Louis Blues.
Don Granato was named the Sabres' interim head coach on March 17, 2021 when he replaced Ralph Krueger. He was given the job on a permanent basis on June 29, 2021.