Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar is officially locked in through the 2030-31 season, signing a four-year extension that confirms his status as the winningest coach in franchise history. This isn’t just another contract, it’s a massive statement from the Avalanche, ensuring stability for a team that’s clearly still chasing hardware.
A Decade of Dominance, and More to Come
Think about it: Bednar has been the guy behind the bench since August 2016, stepping in after Patrick Roy resigned. He’s stacked up an incredible 445,262,75 record. Yeah, you read that right, 445 wins, and the dude led them to a Stanley Cup title back in 2022 with that core of Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and captain Gabriel Landeskog. This isn’t some rookie deal either, Bednar is now the second-longest tenured coach in the entire NHL, with only Jon Cooper in Tampa Bay having a longer run. Joe Sakic, the Avalanche’s president of hockey operations and general manager, didn’t pull any punches, saying, “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. He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players.” The 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. It’s clear they mean business.
Players Have Full Trust in Bednar’s Vision
This extension isn’t just an executive decision, it’s a reflection of the locker room’s belief in Bedsy. Captain Gabriel Landeskog was hyped, saying “We love Bedsy. We’ve said that for a long time , he’s a great coach, great human, the right coach for this group. We know he’s as hungry as we are, and that’s a big part of it. Happy for him.” Even after getting swept in the Western Conference Final, the team gave Bednar a huge vote of confidence in the offseason. Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner who just signed his own insane eight-year, $163.2 million extension, echoed that sentiment: “We obviously have full trust in him. 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.” This isn’t just about a coach, it’s about the entire organization being aligned, from the front office to the players, on the path to continued success.
From “So Bad” to “Ecstatic”
It’s easy to forget that Bednar’s first season, 2016-17, was a brutal 22-56-4. He admits he was worried after that one, saying “The most worried I’ve been is after year one, because it was so bad.” But he put his head down, focused on the work, and turned that ship around. Since then, the Avalanche have made the playoffs in nine straight seasons under him, a feat only 12 other coaches in league history can claim with the same organization. When asked about the deal, Bednar simply said, “I’m ecstatic. Nice to be sticking around.” His philosophy is all about the work, not the contract: “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.” With the season just underway, starting with a game against the Los Angeles Kings, expect Bednar and his crew to be laser-focused on proving they’re still the team to beat.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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