The Colorado Avalanche have it great in more ways than one.
On Sunday, the LA Kings made a tough call, firing coach Jim Hiller amid a freefall afflicting the team. While the situation is certainly pressing for the Kings, it highlights how lucky the Avalanche are to have Jared Bednar.
Bednar remains the second-longest tenured coach in the NHL at the moment. The Avs bench boss only trails the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Jon Cooper. That’s nothing to sneeze at when considering how often coaches change in the NHL.
But as far as Bedar goes, he’s been in the role for a decade. He’s coached 758 regular-season games, amassing a 429-256-73 mark. That’s good for a .614 winning percentage.
In the postseason, however, things haven’t been quite so successful. In 88 games, Bednar has racked up a 52-36 mark, good for a .591 winning percentage. Sure, there’s that amazing 2022 Stanley Cup run.
Before that, there were plenty of disappointing playoff exits. Since then, there have also been a handful of sour playoff experiences.
Despite the ups and downs, Bednar has been one of the most influential voices in Avalanche team history. He took over the club during some of the worst times in history. His first season, the 2016-17 campaign, saw the Avalanche win just 22 games. Bednar’s tutelage, however, allowed the Avs to bounce back the following season. They nailed a 43-30-9 mark and made the postseason.
The Avalanche have not missed the playoffs since then.
This season, the Avs are pretty much a lock to make the postseason. But it won’t be until the puck drops on the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs that the real grind begins.
If there’s anyone who can handle the pressure of playoff hockey, it’s Bednar. The Avalanche organization and its fans are very fortunate to have him at the helm.