In a move that has sent shockwaves through the hockey world, Jared Bednar has officially stepped down as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche. The decision, announced Friday afternoon, comes after an increasingly vocal chorus of fan discontent and three consecutive seasons of playoff shortcomings following the team’s 2022 Stanley Cup triumph. While General Manager Chris MacFarland and President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic had publicly backed Bednar as recently as May, the weight of public opinion and the perceived stagnation of the team’s championship window ultimately proved too much to bear.
Bednar, who led the Avalanche to their third Stanley Cup in franchise history, departs with a complicated legacy. His nine seasons behind the bench saw the team rise from the depths of a historically bad 2016-17 campaign to a consistent Stanley Cup contender. His innovative, high-octane style of play, driven by superstars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Gabriel Landeskog, captivated fans and redefined what an Avalanche team could be. However, the inability to replicate the 2022 magic and a series of frustrating early playoff exits in 2023, 2024, and now 2025, gradually eroded the goodwill he had accumulated.
The latest postseason disappointment, a grueling seven-game loss to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, served as the final straw. Despite a bolstered roster at the trade deadline, which saw the additions of Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Jimmy Vesey, Ryan Lindgren, and Erik Johnson, and the return of captain Gabriel Landeskog, the Avalanche once again faltered in a decisive moment. Blowing a 2-0 third-period lead in Game 7 against their bitter division rival ignited a fresh wave of criticism from the fanbase, who felt the team’s immense talent was not being maximized.
This was an incredibly difficult decision, and one that Jared and I have discussed at length over the past few weeks,” said Chris MacFarland in a press conference. “Jared has been instrumental in the resurgence of this franchise, culminating in our Stanley Cup victory. He’s a phenomenal coach and an even better person. But ultimately, we all felt that a new voice was needed to push this group to the next level and to truly contend for the Stanley Cup year after year.
Sources close to the organization indicate that while Bednar had the unwavering support of management in the immediate aftermath of the playoff exit, the sustained and intensifying pressure from the fanbase, coupled with an internal recognition that the team needed a new direction, led to the mutual agreement for his departure. The decision to relieve assistant coach Ray Bennett of his duties in May was seen by some as a partial attempt to appease critics, but it evidently wasn’t enough to quell the desire for more significant change.
It’s never easy to part ways with someone you’ve worked so closely with, especially after achieving the ultimate goal together,” Bednar said in a statement released by the team. “I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished here in Colorado. The players, the staff, and the fans have been nothing short of amazing. I wish the Avalanche nothing but the best in the future.
The departure of Bednar, the winningest coach in Avalanche history, marks a pivotal moment for the franchise. The search for his successor will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched coaching vacancies in the NHL. Speculation has already begun to swirl, with names like former Oilers head coach Jay Woodcroft, and even former Avalanche defensemen Adam Foote and Manny Malhotra, being tossed around as potential candidates. The Avalanche brass will be under immense pressure to find a coach who can reignite the team’s championship aspirations and consistently deliver in the clutch moments that have eluded them since 2022.
The core of MacKinnon, Makar, and Landeskog remains intact, and the belief within the organization is that the championship window is still wide open. However, with each passing year without another deep playoff run, the urgency to return to the pinnacle of the sport grows. Bednar’s exit signals a clear message: past success, even a Stanley Cup, will not insulate against the demand for sustained excellence in the fiercely competitive NHL. The next chapter for the Colorado Avalanche begins now, with a new voice at the helm tasked with fulfilling the promise of a truly elite roster.
Be the first to comment