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After three seasons behind the bench for the Colorado Avalanche, head coach Jared Bednar signed a two-year extension this afternoon. This deal will keep him in Denver until the end of the 2021-22 season.
In three seasons with the Avs, Bednar has a 103-116-27 record, and has had winning records each of the past two seasons. Those two years, the team went to the playoffs and in 2017-2018, they lost in the first round, but in 2018-2019 the Avs made it to Game seven of the second round.
Bednar was hired by Colorado in Aug 2017 on a two-year contract. In April 2018, after taking the team into the playoffs, Bednar received a one-year extension, along with high praise from GM Joe Sakic.
In his comments today, Sakic commended Bedar for two straight playoff appearances, and says that Bednar has earned his extension.
#Avs GM Joe Sakic on Bednar: "Jared has done a tremendous job behind the bench and has earned the opportunity to continue leading this team. ... He has guided this franchise to two straight playoff appearances and we are excited with what this group can do moving forward."
— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) July 9, 2019
This coming year will be Bednar’s 4th year as a NHL head coach, but his 18th year as a professional coach, as he has worked with AHL and ECHL teams in the past.
Bednar is known for having a strong presence in the locker room, and on the bench —something that has been especially important as the Avs have groomed a young team into a strong playoff contender. With rookie Cale Makar, and fellow 20-year-old Sam Girard on the blue line, Bednar will have a highly talented, but still very young team to lead as they aim to push past the second round next spring.