The Avalanche have extended their head coach for two years.
Jared Bednar, who is in his sixth season in Colorado, is now under contract with the Avs through the 2023-24 season. The 49-year-old has led the Avalanche to four consecutive playoff appearances, a feat that has not been accomplished since 2002-2006.
After joining the team late in the summer of 2016 following the sudden departure of Patrick Roy, Bednar and the Avs struggled mightily, posting the worst NHL record in nearly two decades (22-56-4). General manager Joe Sakic chose to stick with Bednar after that tumultuous year and it has since paid dividends.
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Bednar is 169-98-36 during the Avs’ past four seasons plus the early part of this year. The team has not missed the playoffs since that rocky start. His total record (191-154-40) puts him just two wins shy of Bob Hartley (193) as the winningest coach in Avalanche history and second-most in franchise history (Michel Bergeron, 265).
“Jared has established himself as one of the top coaches in the NHL,” Sakic said in a press release. “He is a great leader who has the complete trust of our players and staff. Under his guidance, our team has continued to make great strides and improve every year. We know he is the right person to help us take that next step and compete for a Stanley Cup.”
Bednar is the fifth longest-tenured coach in the NHL, trailing Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper, Winnipeg’s Paul Maurice, Detroit’s Jeff Blashill and Pittsburgh’s Mike Sullivan.
During his run with the Avs, Bednar has won a Presidents’ Trophy (2021), three playoff series and posted the highest single-season points percentage in franchise history (2021, .732).
“I am grateful and excited to have the opportunity to continue to lead this team and build upon what we have accomplished so far,” Bednar said in a release. “We know we still have yet to achieve our ultimate goal but we are confident in the group we have and will continue to work hard to get there. I’d like to thank Stan and Josh Kroenke, Joe Sakic and the entire Avalanche organization for their continued faith in me. My family and I love Colorado and are thrilled to be a part of this wonderful community.”
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Aarif Deen is our Colorado Avalanche beat reporter. He covers Avs games live from Ball Arena and attends practices, media availabilities and other events pertaining to the Avs on the daily beat. He is also a co-host of Hockey Mountain High: Your go-to Avalanche Podcast. Deen joined Mile High Sports upon completion of his bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in business administration from the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Before Mile High Sports, Deen worked for the Michigan Wolverines Athletics Department as the assistant sports information director.
Follow him on Twitter @runwriteAarif