Jared Bednar is making a clear shift as the Avalanche try to squeeze more value out of their younger players.
Colorado is still built like one of the NHL’s older, more established teams, and there aren’t a ton of open jobs on the roster. But after losing Valeri Nichushkin, Ross Colton, Jack Drury, and Joel Kiviranta over the summer, the Avalanche are leaning on a younger wave to help fill out the lineup. Outside of veteran forward Jaden Schwartz, most of the new faces are players hoping to take a step forward, and the organization also has younger forwards it believes can be developed from within.
That means Bednar is about to spend more time than usual with players who need real runway.
“We’ve got young guys in like [Zachary] L’Heureux, [Fedor] Svechkov. I’m excited to see guys like Brindley, Taylor Makar, who’s grown with the Eagles, [TJ] Hughes, [Matt] DiMarsico, amongst other guys,” Bednar said at Avalanche media day on Wednesday. “We’ve got some young guys that I feel deserve some opportunity here, and if they can knock down the door and push their way into our lineup, great.”
That’s a noticeable change from recent seasons, when younger forwards often got only a brief look and not enough ice time to leave much of a mark. With the exception of Gavin Brindley early last season, that pattern has been pretty consistent.
Bednar, though, is not new to this kind of job. Before Colorado became a win-now machine, he inherited a younger group that was still finding its way. He helped push along the development of players like Valeri Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky, and Devon Toews when they first joined the team.
This time around, the ask is different. The Avalanche don’t need the next wave to become stars right away. They need help in depth roles around what Bednar called arguably the best core in the NHL.
“We were a young team when I took over. We had a group of veteran guys, and then you had guys like MacK and Mikko and Cale all come in and start knocking down the door and pushing their way into leadership roles on their team,” Bednar said.
Now, with his contract set to expire after this season and no extension in place, Bednar is also looking at this as a chance to help the team in a more hands-on way. He said improving the way he works with younger players could give Colorado a better shot when the postseason pressure ramps up.
“It’s part of why I want to change my approach a little bit, spend some more time with individuals, lines, ‘D’ partners,” Bednar said. “Not just myself, but our whole staff. And trying to improve a little bit that way.”
Colorado opens the year with 12 forwards who would have to clear waivers to be sent to the AHL. Ten of those spots are already spoken for by returning veterans. The other two belong to L’Heureux and Svechkov, who arrived in the trade that sent Drury to Nashville early in the offseason.
Their spots are not locked in, but they may have an edge because of their contracts. Bednar said they’ll need extra attention from the start.
“I look at guys like L’Heureux, Svechkov, right out the gate, we’ve got to spend some more time with them,” Bednar said.
He added: “And even if it’s just one or two young guys coming into our lineup and helping our team and putting them in some situations that they can grow into and, you know, seeing what they can provide, I think it’s really important for an organization.”
In Other News...
Avalanche May Have A Real Connor Hellebuyck Opening Now
Connor Hellebuycks situation in Winnipeg has suddenly become one of the most interesting storylines around the league for a Colorado Avalanche team that is always looking for goaltending answers. The Jets announced the goaltender has been suspended after failing to report to training camp, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff is expected to explain more when he speaks to the media.
For the Avalanche, the relevance is obvious. A suspension gives Winnipeg the ability to withhold payment because of the contract breach, and it has already sparked talk about where this could go next, from a possible contract dispute to trade chatter. Colorado does not have to do anything today, but with a name like Hellebuyck suddenly in a messy situation, this is the kind of opening that can change quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Face A Roster Squeeze They May Not Escape Cleanly
The Avalanche are staring at an early roster dilemma that could shape how they move through the opening stretch of the season. Six players will need to clear waivers for the first time, which means Colorado has to balance keeping enough depth in the organization with the risk of losing someone for nothing if another team decides to take a chance. It is the kind of problem good teams run into, but it is not a simple one, especially when contract status, previous experience and organizational depth all factor into the decision-making.
Some of the names in that group look more like AHL candidates than NHL locks, while others sit in a trickier gray area where the safest move on paper may still carry real downside. Colorado will have to sort through who can be exposed and who cannot, and the answers are not always obvious when a roster is this tight. The next few moves could tell just as much about the Avalanches depth chart as they do about the players themselves. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Fans Did A Double Take When Brent Burns Arrived At Camp
Brent Burns showed up at the Avalanches first media availability of training camp looking like the kind of player who can still surprise even after 22 seasons in the NHL. The veteran defenseman arrived with a noticeably cleaned-up face, a fresh trim to his signature facial hair and a smile that looked a little different, thanks to new front teeth replacing the gap-toothed grin fans have associated with him for years.
For Colorado, the visual change was the immediate conversation starter, but Burns remains very much part of the hockey story. He is entering his 23rd NHL season and is closing in on the all-time consecutive games played record while still contributing on the ice, giving the Avalanche a rare mix of durability and familiarity. The team will open its 2026-27 season on Sept. 30 against the Los Angeles Kings, and Burns will be one of the more closely watched figures when the season gets underway. [Read more 🡒]