The Avalanche play regular-season hockey today, but it appears they wanted to shore up a little business before we dropped the puck on the 2026-27 season, as head coach Jared Bednar has inked a four-year contract extension. Bednar will be at the helm through the 2030-31 season under the new deal.
Many of Jared Bednar’s players have said that he’s the right coach for this group, and Joe Sakic has
echoed those compliments. Sakic and Co. are putting their money where their mouth is (although we don’t get figures for coaching contracts); one would have to assume Bednar can drive a hard bargain given his success at all levels of hockey.
We just talked about Bednar getting an in-season extension on yesterday’s 156th edition of the Mile High Hockey Lab, and basically the entire panel agreed he’d still have to prove it in the playoffs. In retrospect, that feels a bit silly, given that Bednar proved his worth in the playoffs in 2022 and led the Avalanche to the most successful regular season in franchise history.
Bednar, at 54, has a regular-season record of 445-262-75 (.617) and a postseason record of 60-40-1 (.594). He’s won a Kelly Cup (2009), a Calder Cup (2016), a Stanley Cup (2022), and two Presidents’ Trophies (2021 & 2026).
The ever-elusive Jack Adams Award hasn’t yet made it into Bednar’s trophy case, but I have a feeling this might be the year.
This deal brings more stability to a group with little to settle and likely looking to prove itself again this season with Cup aspirations.
Avalanche GM had this to say via the NHL.com articleannouncing the extension:
“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.”
Additionally, Jared Bednar said this about the deal in that same NHL.com article.
“I’m extremely happy and grateful to continue leading this group,” said Bednar. “My family and I have loved being a part of this organization from the beginning, and I can’t thank the Kroenke family and Joe Sakic enough for their support.”
Let us know what you think of the extension in the comments!
