Joe Sakic says there’s no urgency surrounding an extension for Jared Bednar, but the Avalanche are continuing talks with their longtime head coach.
When Joe Sakic tells Avalanche fans not to worry, history suggests they should probably listen.
Sakic delivered that message again Monday while discussing head coach Jared Bednar on Altitude Sports Radio. With Bednar entering the final year of his three-year contract, questions about his future in Colorado are beginning to surface.
Sakic, however, doesn't appear concerned.
“No, we’re continuing. We’re gonna talk about it and see if we can get to an agreement here. ... We’ll try and get to an extension, and hopefully we can work something out, but there’s no urgency either.”
It’s a similar message to the one Sakic gave regarding Cale Makar earlier this summer. While there was plenty of speculation about whether the Avalanche would be able to reach a long-term agreement with their star defenseman, Sakic remained confident.
That confidence proved justified when Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million extension, keeping him in Colorado through the 2034-35 season.
Now, the focus shifts to Bednar.
Bednar has been behind Colorado's bench since 2016 and has accomplished just about everything possible during his tenure. He has won championships at the ECHL, AHL and NHL levels, including the 2022 Stanley Cup with the Avalanche. He is also the winningest coach in franchise history.
With that résumé, it makes sense that Colorado would want to keep him around.
Still, Sakic made it clear Monday that there is no rush to get a deal done.
The Avalanche will continue negotiating with Bednar and see if the two sides can reach an agreement. For now, though, both Sakic and Bednar appear comfortable letting the process play out.
And if Sakic's track record is any indication, Avalanche fans may want to take him at his word once again.
Bednar has taken plenty of heat over the past couple of seasons because of the team's playoff shortcomings, but the bottom line is that the organization wanted him back. Perhaps even more importantly, the players gave him their vote of confidence.
Now, we'll see if next season brings that magic spark back.
