The Colorado Avalanche have agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension with coach Jared Bednar, the team announced Wednesday.
The move alleviates any concern about Bednar's future in Colorado. The winningest coach in franchise history had been set to be behind the bench for the 2026-27 season on the final year of his contract before the extension.
"The most worried I've been is after Year 1, because it was so bad," said Bednar, referencing the only year he hasn't taken the Avalanche to the playoffs. "I put a lot of thought into what I do, how I coach, the way we operate, and I do the best job I possibly can. I'm at peace with that. I don't really think about the term I have on my contract or don't have on my contract. It's just going out and doing the best you can to help this team win."
General manager Joe Sakic said in June that Bednar and his staff would return, but there had been some uncertainty after the Presidents' Trophy-winning Avalanche were stunned in a Western Conference finals sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights.
"Jared has done an outstanding job over the last decade, and there's no doubt in my mind he's the best coach for this group," Sakic said in a statement announcing the new deal. "He commands the room and has complete confidence of the players. We're excited to continue to have him in charge, and we believe that his presence maximizes the team's potential while this core group is intact."
Bednar, who said leading into training camp that they were in discussions to get a deal completed, is now signed through the 2030-31 season.
Colorado and Bednar won the Stanley Cup in 2021-22 behind a nucleus that included Cale Makar, Nathan MacKinnon and captain Gabriel Landeskog. He has a 445-262-75 record during his tenure.
"We love Bedsy. We've said that for a long time. He's a great coach, great human, the right coach for this group," Landeskog said Wednesday morning before the team's season opener. "We know he's as hungry as we are, and that's a big part of it. Happy for him."
The Avalanche, who set a franchise record with 121 points in 2025-26, begin their regular season Wednesday by hosting the Los Angeles Kings.
Bednar is the second-longest-tenured coach in the NHL behind only the Tampa Bay Lightning's Jon Cooper, who was hired in 2013.
This is the second big deal the Avalanche have completed in the past five weeks as the team also locked up Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, to the richest deal in NHL history.
"We obviously have full trust in him," said Makar, who signed an eight-year, $163.2 million extension that kicks in next season. "For us to have stability like that as a team and to know the direction that we feel comfortable in and confident that we can find success in is great."
Said Landeskog: "At the end of the day, we have to go out and perform and do the job. I think Bedsy is the right man for us behind the bench. He's always done a good job for us."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.