Cammi Granato has been watching the Vancouver Canucks for years.

As a pro scout for the Seattle Kraken B次元官网网址� the first female scout in NHL history B次元官网网址� she spent ample time in the press box at VancouverB次元官网网址檚 Rogers Arena, sussing out talent for the leagueB次元官网网址檚 newest team.

Now sheB次元官网网址檒l be watching with a new view. The Canucks named Granato assistant general manager on Thursday.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very, very excited to take on this role,B次元官网网址� she said on a video call Thursday.

Granato captained the U.S. team that beat Canada to win gold at the B次元官网网址�98 Nagano Olympics. The native of Downers Grove, Ill., also won silver at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.

She remains the all-time leading scorer for the American womenB次元官网网址檚 team with 343 points (186 goals and 157 assists).

In 2010, Granato and Canadian Angela James became the first women to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

B次元官网网址淐ammi 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,B次元官网网址� Jim Rutherford, the Canucks president of hockey operations, said in a statement.

As assistant GM, Granato will oversee VancouverB次元官网网址檚 player development department and its amateur and pro scouting department.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a job she feels prepared for after three years of scouting for the Kraken.

B次元官网网址淥ne of the things that I had said coming in here is I havenB次元官网网址檛 done this job before but I have great people surrounding me, I have a lot of experience in the game and definitely the experience with Seattle has helped me prepare,B次元官网网址� she said.

Granato, 50, joins a Canucks front office that has been entirely revamped since former general manager Jim Benning, head coach Travis Green and several other staff were fired in early December.

Rutherford was named president of hockey operations soon after. He has hired former Penguins assistant general manger Patrik Allvin as GM and former scout Derek Clancey and former player agent Emilie Castonguay as assistant GMs.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 certainly reason to celebrate joining an NHL front office where there are two women on the management team, Granato said.

B次元官网网址淔or sure itB次元官网网址檚 a big day to have two women in management on one team. It just goes to show JimB次元官网网址檚 vision to sort of diversify, get different voices, get different peopleB次元官网网址檚 experience and draw them together,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淢aybe this conversation will change and in 10 years it wonB次元官网网址檛 be a big deal or five years it wonB次元官网网址檛 be a big deal when other teams follow suit.B次元官网网址�

Granato believes she and Castonguay wonB次元官网网址檛 be anomalies for long. She expects more women to join teams around the league soon.

B次元官网网址淵ou can now look at the position of someone whoB次元官网网址檚 qualified and not just think itB次元官网网址檚 a manB次元官网网址檚 role,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 women that are qualified, thereB次元官网网址檚 players that will come out of these Olympics that will retire and be able to be in roles in the NHL. I do think that youB次元官网网址檒l see more of it. I think itB次元官网网址檚 an exciting time.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 an exciting time for the Canucks, too, Granato said.

After a dismal start to the season, Vancouver is working its way back into the playoff picture, sitting six points out of a post-season berth with a 21-21-6 record.

B次元官网网址淲e have a nice base of young, skilled players and I think our job is to build a championship team and thatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檙e going to be focusing on,B次元官网网址� Granato said.

The Canucks wrap a three-game homestand on Saturday when they host the Toronto Maple Leafs.

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press