The Colorado Avalanche have locked up Jared Bednar for the long haul, agreeing to a four-year extension that the team announced Wednesday.
Bednar is in the final season of his current deal, but this new contract won’t kick in until 2027-28. By then, he’ll be heading into his 11th season behind the Colorado bench, a run that already includes some major hardware and a pile of franchise records.
Last season, Bednar guided the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy with 121 points. He also coached Colorado to the Stanley Cup in 2021-22, adding another milestone to a tenure that has become one of the most successful in team history.
“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,” president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic 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.”
The numbers back up the confidence. Bednar’s 445 regular-season wins and 60 playoff victories are both franchise highs, and his track record stacks up well leaguewide, too.
Among coaches with at least 100 regular-season games behind the bench, his .617 points percentage ranks 17th all time. In the postseason, his .594 winning percentage ranks sixth all time among coaches with at least 50 playoff games.
Bednar said he’s grateful to stay with the organization and eager for what comes next.
"I'm extremely happy and grateful to continue leading this group," Bednar said. "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. I look forward to working hard each day this season and beyond to accomplish our goal of winning another Stanley Cup."
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Avalanche Just Made Their Faith In Jared Bednar Crystal Clear
The Avalanche made their priorities plain before facing the Kings, locking in Jared Bednar with a four-season contract extension and removing any doubt about where the organization stands on its coach. Bednar has been behind Colorados bench since 2016, and his run has included the franchises Stanley Cup breakthrough in the 2021-22 season, the kind of success that tends to buy a long runway in Denver.
Colorados timing also says plenty. Announcing the deal shortly before puck drop against Los Angeles gave the club a chance to underline continuity at a moment when every contender is trying to keep its window open. Bednar has already shown he can guide this group to the top, and now the Avalanche have signaled they want that partnership to keep rolling well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]