Head coach Jared Bednar agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday. He is in the final year of his current contract and his 11th season with the team.
Bednar, 54, has a regular-season record of 445-262-75 in 782 games and a 60-41 postseason record. He is the winningest coach in Avalanche/Nordiques franchise history.
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“I love my job. I love working with these guys, whether it’s our players, our management team, everybody all in, trying to pull the rope in the same direction and trying to win. That’s exactly what I enjoy,” Bednar said. “It’s the relationship that I’ve built with the players, and the partnership that we’re in. I’m really enjoying coming to the rink as much as I was when I first got here. So I’m really looking forward to staying as the coach.”
On media day, Bednar expressed that he was not concerned about his contract. He said that he and GM and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic had a good relationship and they had talked but weren’t quite there yet on an agreement.
“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,” Sakic said. “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.”
Avs players glad to have Bednar for another four years
The Avs have made the playoffs every year except Bednar’s first and won the Stanley Cup with him at the helm in 2022.
“Great extension for him. We obviously have full trust in him, and 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, it’s great,” Cale Makar said.
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His players have praised his work ethic and style and appreciate his personal attention to the details of their game.
“I love Bedsy. He’s been great for me. He’s done a lot of great things, just helping me build my game, giving me confidence,” Parker Kelly said. Believed in me, gave me, not that I didn’t play a lot in Ottawa, but he just believed in me and helped me hone in my role here. Gave me a chance to go prove myself every night.”
The Avalanche are highly favored to win the Stanley Cup this year. That is Bednar’s focus after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last year and a disappointing exit in the Western Conference Finals.
