The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026-27 campaign with legitimate Stanley Cup aspirations, but there is one notable question hanging over the team: the future of head coach Jared Bednar.
Bednar, the longest-serving and winningest coach in franchise history, is entering the final season of his current contract without an extension having been finalized.
However, two of Colorado’s biggest stars made it clear during Avalanche media day that the situation is not creating concern inside the locker room.
Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog both publicly supported Bednar, backing a coach who has taken the Avalanche to the playoffs in nine straight seasons and guided the franchise to its third Stanley Cup championship in 2022.
“We have a great system, we have great people around,” MacKinnon said. “I think Bedsy’s done an amazing job of coaching.”
MacKinnon’s comments came while he was asked about Mike Babcock and the Edmonton Oilers, with Bednar having indicated that he plans to approach his coaching differently this season. The Avalanche superstar made his support for his head coach clear.
Landeskog offered a similar endorsement, emphasizing one particular quality he believes is important for a coach: consistency.
“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.”
That consistency will be especially important as Colorado attempts to rebound from a disappointing postseason ending.
The Avalanche dominated the regular season in 2025-26, finishing with a 55-16-11 record and claiming the Presidents’ Trophy by an eight-point margin. Colorado also led the NHL in both goals scored and goals allowed.
Yet that impressive regular-season performance ultimately meant little once the playoffs arrived.
The Vegas Golden Knights swept the Avalanche in four games during the Western Conference Final. Colorado was also dealing with the absence of Cale Makar for Games 1 and 2 because of an upper-body injury, while the star defenseman appeared limited after returning to the lineup.
The Avalanche never managed to regain their rhythm, ultimately dropping four consecutive regulation games for the first time during the entire season.
That abrupt playoff collapse has added significance to Bednar’s contract situation as Colorado prepares for training camp.
Bednar has acknowledged that he still has something to prove and has discussed making adjustments to his coaching philosophy this season. One of those changes involves putting greater emphasis on his own team rather than spending so much time focusing on the opposition.
For now, however, the public support from MacKinnon and Landeskog provides a clear indication of how Bednar is viewed by key members of the Avalanche locker room.
While Colorado’s front office has yet to finalize a new contract for its longtime coach, the team’s stars have made their position clear: they remain confident in Bednar and believe he can guide the Avalanche on another run toward the Stanley Cup.