Joe Sakic Confirms Avalanche Will Stick with Core and Coach Bednar for Next Season

Joe Sakic is putting his faith in the core group of players that propelled the Colorado Avalanche to a franchise-record 121 points last season. The Avalanche president of hockey operations and newly appointed de facto general manager is committed to bringing back a lineup featuring stars like Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and captain Gabriel Landeskog. Sakic’s confidence extends to head coach Jared Bednar, who remains at the helm after securing the most wins in team history.

Despite a disappointing end to their postseason run—swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final—Sakic believes the team’s overall performance throughout the regular season outweighs the playoff setback. “We could panic and try and blow everything up and start all over,” Sakic said. “But this team, what they’ve done over the course of the year, was pretty remarkable. We want to give them an opportunity to try and do it again.”

Bednar faced scrutiny following the series against Vegas, where the Avalanche struggled to make in-game adjustments against a formidable defense. With Bednar entering the final year of his contract, his future seemed uncertain. However, Sakic reassured that the players respect and believe in their coach, stating, “It’s clear from everybody, from players, the staff, that he’s the right guy. They respect him, they love playing for him, and that’s a big thing.”

Sakic, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with Colorado, stepped back into the GM role after Chris MacFarland left to lead the Nashville Predators. He was the architect behind the Avalanche’s championship team in 2021-22, and he remains optimistic about the future. After an impressive start to the postseason, going 8-1, the team faltered against a Golden Knights squad that found its stride under coach John Tortorella, limiting Colorado’s high-scoring offense to just seven goals in the series.

Reflecting on the season, Sakic acknowledged the disappointment but also the achievements, saying, “We all feel that we left something on the table, but you wake up the next day and you look to try and get better. We played really well against L.A., really well against Minnesota. We played against a (Vegas) team that, just for that time, played better than we did. No excuses, but we’ll be ready for next year.”

Injuries plagued the Avalanche during the playoffs, notably to Makar, who missed two games against Vegas. Sakic reassured fans that the team would be healthy for training camp, stating, “Everybody is going to be at training camp and 100%. Nobody going to miss any time.” One of Sakic’s priorities this offseason will be to secure an extension for Makar, who recorded a 20-goal season for the third consecutive year. Sakic expressed confidence in reaching an agreement, saying, “Cale is going to finish his career here. We’re confident that something’s going to get worked out at some point.”

Addressing the team’s fast-paced style, which has had mixed results in the playoffs, Sakic downplayed any concerns. “I don’t think the physical play is the reason we lost. It was just our lack of execution in moments of the games,” he said. In a recent news conference, Kroenke Sports and Entertainment vice chairman Josh Kroenke emphasized the importance of continuity for the Avalanche’s success. He noted that the core group has been developed through a careful drafting process, which has established the team as a perennial contender in the NHL.

Even the coaching staff will remain intact, including assistant coach Dave Hakstol, who will aim to improve the power play. Sakic acknowledged the need for improvement in certain areas but remained committed to building a championship-caliber team. “This group’s come a long way. Now we’re in that window, and this team deserves to try and win, but we’re going to do whatever we can. If it’s to get younger, we’ll look to try and get younger. But we want to make sure this team has the right pieces to try and compete for the Cup,” he concluded.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.