On this date in 2016, the Colorado Avalanche hired Jared Bednar away from the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.
Many people will argue that Columbus should've promoted Bednar, but in October of 2015, when HC Todd Richards was fired by Columbus and hired John Tortorella, Bednar had just started the season with the Lake Erie Monsters and would go on to win the Calder Cup.
It was just bad timing for the entire situation.
John Tortorella would go on to coach the Jackets until 2021 and lead them to four playoff appearances. He had a record of 227-166-54 with Columbus, including going 13-18 in the playoffs. He also led Columbus to their first playoff series win, which was the historic sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Torts was the perfect choice AT THAT TIME.
Jared Bednar has been with the Colorado Avalanche since August 25, 2016. After a few bad seasons, which included a 22-win season in Bednar's first year, he ended up with some very good players. Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Tyson Jost were drafted to the Avs after those bad years. He also got some very good free agents.
After Bednar's 22-win season, his first ever draft pick would be Cale Makar in 2017. The rest is history on that pick.
In 10 NHL seasons as the head coach, Bednar has a record of 390-246-64 with a point % of .603. In 2022, it ended with a Stanley Cup. He led his team to a 56-win season and had 119 points. They also went 16-4 in the playoffs.
His team has also finished with over 100 points four straight seasons but can't seem to get past the second round. Two of the last three seasons has seen his Avs put out in the first round as well, and that's making Avs fans nervous.
Last season, the Avs shockingly traded superstar Mikko Rantanen to the Carolina Hurricanes, who was then traded to the hated rival Dallas Stars. Something tells me Colorado will regret not signing Rantanen.
How did you feel about Bednar leaving the organization?
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