When a coach says “I have no idea,” it tells you plenty about the state of things.
That was Jared Bednar’s answer when asked what was behind the Colorado Avalanche’s flat play on a road trip that ended with losses to the Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils. It was as blunt as it gets, and it matched the broader mood around a team that has suddenly been hard to pin down.
Bednar was asked the same thing on Altitude Sports Radio, and while he said more there, the message didn’t really change.
“I don’t know. I wish I knew.
I felt like we were starting to hit our stride a little bit in the way we were playing. Had a little bit of a tough time putting together a full 60 minutes in those games, but when we were good, we were really good.
And those were quite honestly two of the worst games I’ve seen our team play in years.”
That’s the uncomfortable part for Colorado: this isn’t just about two bad results. The Avalanche head into Friday’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Ball Arena with real questions hanging over them after one of the roughest stretches their own coach has described in years.
And the matchup doesn’t offer much relief. Tampa Bay comes in after a 6-2 road win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday, with Nikita Kucherov also sitting just one point away from passing Steven Stamkos as the Lightning’s all-time leading scorer.
Colorado, meanwhile, looks like a team that’s still searching for its identity.
The same problems keep popping up. The Avalanche are still giving the puck away in dangerous spots, still having trouble getting back on defense, and still making questionable decisions with the puck. The difference this season is that the offense hasn’t been there often enough to erase those mistakes.
Injuries have played a part in that. The roster is missing Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton and Jack Drury, who are no longer on the team.
Nic Roy has been out with an injury, and Zach L’Heureux - expected to be a major offseason addition - has also dealt with multiple injuries. That leaves Colorado thinner than it was last season, especially when it comes to getting reliable production beyond the top names.
Even so, there have been bright spots. Artturi Lehkonen has exploded out of the gate with eight goals in 10 games, the best start of his career.
His 11 points are tied for second on the team behind Nathan MacKinnon. Jaden Schwartz has also been excellent through the first 10 games and is on pace for one of his strongest seasons in years.
But that kind of individual production only goes so far. Colorado still needs steadier play from top to bottom, better defensive structure and more urgency.
It’s not time to overreact to two games, and the injury situation matters. Still, the same mistakes keep surfacing, and they’re harder to ignore when the scoring isn’t there to cover them up.
Coaches don’t always have immediate answers after a bad night, but finding the reasons and fixing them is part of the job. If these were truly two of the worst games the Avalanche have played in years, then understanding why has to matter.
The Avalanche are back home, Tampa Bay is rolling in with momentum, and Bednar is now operating under a new contract extension. Colorado doesn’t need panic. It does need clarity.
Before Friday’s puck drop, it would help if the Avalanche had more than just an “I have no idea.”
In Other News...
Avalanche Just Got A Reminder Of What An Elite Goalie Costs
Connor Hellebuyck landing with the New Jersey Devils in a deal built around Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Alexander Command, Nico Daws and two draft picks served as a sharp reminder of what it takes to pry an elite goalie loose. For the Avalanche, it also underscored why Colorado probably stayed in the background on this one. Even for a team that values stability in net, the price tag on a move like that goes well beyond money or cap space.
The bigger issue is that the Avalanche simply do not have the kind of comparable trade chips to make a deal of that size realistic, and they do not appear to be shopping for a goaltender of Hellebuycks caliber right now. Their focus is more likely to remain on other roster needs, which makes this one less about a missed opportunity and more about a league-wide lesson. Top-tier goaltending still commands a steep return, and Colorado was never in a position to pay it. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Rough Stretch Puts C-Mac In An Uncomfortable Spotlight
The early NHL leaderboard has a familiar look near the top, with Edmonton racing out to an 8-1-1 start behind another electric run from Connor McDavid. The Oilers have leaned on their stars in obvious fashion, too, with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl each posting five points in a shootout win over Carolina, a reminder of how quickly one dominant line can tilt a season in a league where momentum comes fast and often.
For Colorado, that kind of surge only sharpens the attention around a team trying to steady itself before facing Tampa Bay. The Avalanche are the kind of club that gets measured against the league's best every night, and when the results aren't there, the scrutiny follows quickly, especially with other familiar opponents like Nashville sputtering and Philadelphia clawing its way back from a rough start. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Finally Get Logan OConnor Back At The Right Time
Logan OConnor is set to return to the Avalanche lineup on Oct. 23 against Tampa Bay, giving Colorado a needed jolt after he missed time because of a preseason injury and the loss of his father. The timing matters, too, because the Avalanche have already had to make a corresponding roster move, sending Gavin Brindley down to the AHL and recalling Taylor Makar as they prepare for OConnors season debut.
Head coach Jared Bednar and teammate Parker Kelly both pointed to what OConnor brings beyond the box score, especially for a fourth line that thrives on pace, pressure and reliability. Colorado has spent the early part of the season piecing things together, and getting OConnor back gives the Avalanche a familiar piece in a role that tends to matter more and more when games tighten up. [Read more 🡒]