Two Avalanche centerpieces give Jared Bednar strong endorsements

The Colorado Avalanche head into the 2026-27 season with Stanley Cup expectations and a looming question behind the bench.

Jared Bednar, the franchise’s longest-tenured and winningest head coach, enters the final year of his contract without an extension in place.

Two of the Avs biggest stars want everyone to know that’s not a concern inside the locker room.

Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog each gave Bednar strong endorsements during Avalanche media day, offering their public votes of confidence for a coach who has guided Colorado to the playoffs in nine consecutive seasons and delivered the franchise’s third Stanley Cup in 2022.

“We have a great system, we have great people around,” MacKinnon said. “I think Bedsy’s done an amazing job of coaching.”

Nathan MacKinnon was asked about Mike Babcock and the Oilers as a preface to Jared Bednar coaching the Avalanche a little different this year. Something Bednar said he would do. Here’s a strong endorsement for Bednar from MacKinnon. pic.twitter.com/BYArMTMi4A

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) September 16, 2026

Landeskog, the team’s captain, pointed to what he values most in a head coach, predictability.

“I think Bedsy, he’s consistent. That’s one of the things, as a player, all you’re looking for in a coach is the consistency,” Landeskog said. “You know what you’re gonna get when you see him. After a tough loss, after a big win, after an offseason like this, you wanna know what you have to expect when you see your coach.”

A Jared Bednar endorsement from Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog. Mentions the consistency that Bednar brings after tough losses and big wins. It’s clear the players love skating for him. pic.twitter.com/V3OpWLxuJK

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) September 16, 2026

That consistency will be tested this fall. Bednar’s Avalanche were the best regular-season team in hockey a year ago, posting a 55-16-11 record, winning the Presidents’ Trophy by eight points, and leading the NHL in both goals scored and goals allowed.

None of it mattered in May however, when the Vegas Golden Knights swept Colorado in four games in the Western Conference Final. Cale Makar missed Games 1 and 2 with an upper-body injury and looked limited upon his return, and the Avs never found their footing.

The sting of that exit, losing four straight regulation games for the first time all season, is what makes Bednar’s contract situation such a storyline heading into camp.

Bednar, for his part, has acknowledged he still needs to prove himself and has talked about evolving his coaching approach this season, focusing more on his own team than the opponent.

For now, the players backing him publicly sends a clear message. The Avalanche believe their coach is the right man to lead them back to the Stanley Cup Final and beyond, even if the front office hasn’t put pen to paper yet on a new deal.

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