Former Leafs Organization Player Predicted to Be Fired as NHL Head Coach
Photo credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar might be on the hot seat according to the In The Box podcast, as host Mike Bartner predicted he could be fired come summertime.
Although the Colorado Avalanche have been one of the more dominant teams in recent memory and won a Stanley Cup in 2022, they have not made it out of the second round since, and previous to their Cup win hadn't made it through then either.
It's a bit puzzling considering the Avalanche have had an incredible number of stars over the last decade and should have been primed to at least contend and push for Finals appearances, but always came up short.
Those shortcomings might end up causing some issues with head coach Jared Bednar and also might cost him his job.
Why His Coaching Future in Colorado Is Now in Doubt
Host Mike Bartner of the In The Box podcast gave his hot takes for the 2025-26 season, and it seems like the hottest one of all might be the fact that he thinks Bednar isn't going to stick around:
I think Jared Bednar is fired at some point. Whether it's a slow start or they lose early in the playoffs; that loss to Dallas was so goddamned bad; they weren't gonna fire him in the moment, I just think MacFarland is on the hot seat; they'll fire Bednar before the GM.
They are a good team but I can see them getting off a slow start.
If he doesn't make the Western Conference Finals he should be fired. But this might be his final year, considering Colorado has been one of the most disappointing teams in the last three years.
Yeah you won a Cup but that wears off quicker than you realize.
They are a good team but I can see them getting off a slow start.
If he doesn't make the Western Conference Finals he should be fired. But this might be his final year, considering Colorado has been one of the most disappointing teams in the last three years.
Yeah you won a Cup but that wears off quicker than you realize.
It would be hard to see the Avs get off to a slow start with a fully healthy Gabriel Landeskog, a re-signed and motivated Brock Nelson, as well as Cale Makar running things with Nathan MacKinnon; they sky's the limit. Oh, and Martin Necas is still on the roster, so the star power is incredible.
But if not, then Bednar is likely gone. Though he might not be out of a job for long.
Jared Bednar's Forgotten Connection to the Maple Leafs
Bednar never played for Toronto in his time with the club, but he was a Maple Leaf; a St. John's one albeit, but one nonetheless.
After spending three seasons with Huntington of the ECHL, Bednar signed with the Maple Leafs in the 1996-97 season, and skated in 55 games while adding three points (1 goal, 2 assists) and 151 PIM.
So with the Maple Leafs potentially on the lookout for an assistant for Craig Berube (Marc Savard's job is in jeopardy if he can't get things going either) it seems fitting that Bednar comes back and helps this version of the team while behind the bench this time.
For his career, Bednar holds a 390-246-64 record which is a .557 win percentage, won a Cup in 2022, and holds the franchise records for wins, points, and games coached.
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