The Colorado Avalanche have reportedly hired Jared Bednar as the new Head Coach, taking over after Patrick Roy’s resignation two weeks ago. Bednar, 44, is coming off a season in which he led the AHL’s Lake Erie Monsters to the Calder Cup title.
Bednar was considered a rising star in the coaching ranks and likely to receive an NHL job sooner than later based on his track record of success. He coached the ECHL’s South Carolina Stingrays to a Kelly Cup victory in 2008-09 before jumping to the AHL coaching ranks as an assistant. After one year as an assistant, Bednar landed his first AHL Head Coach job with the Peoria Rivermen and immediately guided them to the playoffs.