Colorado Got SWEPT Outta the WCF, But Joe Sakic Just Said Jared Bednar Is 'The Best Coach' and the League Is Stunned

Alright, hockey fans, can we even believe this? After getting absolutely *swept* out of the Western Conference Finals by the Vegas Golden Knights, the Colorado Avalanche are NOT hitting the panic button. Their new GM, Joe Sakic, just dropped a bombshell, saying head coach Jared Bednar and his entire staff are coming back for the 2026-27 season. Seriously, can you imagine the chatter around the league? Sakic, who took over as GM just this month, straight up said, "No plans to make any moves. We feel he's the best coach for our team." That's a statement, especially after how their season ended.

From President's Trophy to Playoff Sweep: What Happened?

Let's rewind for a second, because the Avs' season was wild. They were a *juggernaut* in the regular season, clinching the President's Trophy with the NHL's best record at 55-16-11, racking up an insane 121 points. They started the playoffs like a house on fire too, sweeping the Los Angeles Kings and then eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games. You'd think they were destined for the Cup. But then, *boom*. The Golden Knights came in and just flat-out swept them in the Western Conference Finals. It was a shocking turn, made tougher by significant injuries to star center Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar during that series. There was genuine speculation Bednar might be out of a job, but Sakic isn't buying it. He stuck by his coach, declaring, "Our style of play worked all year, until one week." One week, huh? That's a tough pill to swallow after such a dominant run.

Sakic's Vision: No Panic, Just Business As Usual

Sakic, who we know won the Stanley Cup with the Avs in 2022 as GM before moving up, is back in the GM chair after Chris MacFarland headed to Nashville. He's making it clear there's a plan here. Bednar's contract is up after next season, but Sakic isn't worried. He pointed out, "There are a lot of people that are entering the last year of their contract. He shouldn't be worried about it. The contracts will come when they come." Talk about a vote of confidence, right? Sakic's got a long view, saying he's "being GM right now" and it's "business as usual on our end. We're going to make this team as good as possible so we can be a contender again. We all feel we left something on the table." His core belief? This current roster is built for a multi-year run at the Stanley Cup. He summed it up perfectly: "We just didn't put it together in a stretch of four games. We could panic, blow everything up and start all over." But they're not. They're betting on Bednar, and on themselves. So, the Avs are running it back with Bednar despite that painful sweep. What does this mean for the rest of the NHL? Will this stability pay off, or will that WCF performance haunt them? It's a bold move, and you know everyone will be watching closely when the puck drops next season.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.