Jared Bednar signs contract extension with Colorado Avalanche

[p]The 54-year-old Canadian, starting his 11th season as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/colorado-avalanche/hACAnvBa/"]Colorado[/a]'s coach, was entering the last year of a three-year contract signed in 2023.[/p][p]"[b]I'm extremely happy and grateful to continue leading this group,[/b]" Bednar said. "[b]I look forward to working hard each day this season and beyond to accomplish our goal of winning another Stanley Cup.[/b]"[/p][p]The new deal was announced hours before the Avalanche open the 2026-27 season at home against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-kings/CIDo8i2o/"]Los Angeles[/a].[/p][p]"[b]Jared has done an outstanding job over the last decade and there’s no doubt in my mind he's the best coach for this group,[/b]" Avalanche president of hockey operations Joe Sakic said. "[b]He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players[/b]."[/p][embed guid="79221e7f-2972-46f5-9a7c-fcf5ebcc12b1" url="https://x.com/Avalanche/status/2105289306281751005?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Bednar, the team's all-time wins leader with a record of 445-262 with 75 overtime losses, is the NHL's second-longest tenured coach behind [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tampa-bay-lightning/YVE3zk1c/"]Tampa Bay[/a]'s Jon Cooper.[/p][p]Colorado reached the playoffs for the past nine seasons and last year had the NHL's best regular-season record with 55 wins but lost to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vegas-golden-knights/fTT0TsUg/"]Vegas[/a] in the Western Conference final.[/p]