New Avalanche coach Jared Bednar has named Nolan Pratt the team’s new defensive coach and responsible for the penalty kill, and said Tim Army will continue to work with the forwards and power play. Army and Dave Farrish were retained from Patrick Roy’s staff, along with goaltending specialist Francois Allaire, but Bednar said Farrish will work in a support role under Pratt, the former Avalanche defenseman who was hired by Roy in July.
Coincidentally, Pratt worked under Bednar for the Lake Erie (now Cleveland) Monsters of the American Hockey League last season.
Leadership letters. Bednar will retain left wing Gabe Landeskog as team captain but reconsider the alternates, who were forwards Jarome Iginla and Cody McLeod the past two seasons.