Avalanche agree to terms with coach Jared Bednar on a 4-year extension through 2030-31

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“We obviously have full trust in him,” said Makar, who signed a signed a $163.2 million, eight-year extension that kicks in next season. “For us to have stability like that as a team and to know the direction that we feel comfortable in and confident that we can find success in is great.”

Application submitted

$300M AI data centre proposed at Red Deer County's Junction 42

9h ago

first of its kind

Red Deer RCMP reports Drone as First Responder Program lauched in June a success

10h ago

sweden and denmark

MLA LaGrange travelling to Europe to learn about innovative health care

11h ago

Bednar was hired in August 2016 following the resignation of coach Patrick Roy. The 54-year-old Bednar is currently the second-longest tenured coach in the NHL, trailing only Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“Jared has done an outstanding job over the last decade, and there’s no doubt in my mind he’s the best coach for this group,” Joe Sakic, the Avalanche’s president of hockey operations/general manager, said in a statement. “He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players. We’re excited to continue to have him in charge, and we believe that his presence maximizes the team’s potential while this core group is intact.”

Bednar brings a sense of calm to the bench, which his players appreciate. The team has been to the playoffs in every season but one under Bednar — his first, in 2016-17, when the team went 22-56-4. He’s the 13th head coach (14th occasion) in league history to take the same organization to the postseason in at least nine straight seasons.

“I’m ecstatic,” Bednar said. “Nice to be sticking around.”

He had his concerns after his rookie NHL head coaching season.

“The most worried I’ve been is after year one, because it was so bad,” Bednar said. “I put a lot of thought into what I do, how I coach, the way we operate, and I do the best job I possibly can. I’m at peace with that. I don’t really think about the term I have on my contract or don’t have on my contract, it’s just going out and doing the best you can to help this team win.”

His team was the Presidents’ Trophy winner last year with a franchise-best 121 points and is expected to be another strong Cup contender this season.

“At the end of the day, we have to go out and perform and do the job,” Landeskog said. “I think Bedsy is the right man for us behind the bench. He’s always done a good job for us.”

___

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Pat Graham, The Associated Press