Following their surprising four-game sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final, the Colorado Avalanche are confronting critical decisions this offseason. Speculation is rife regarding potential changes in coaching and general management.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman discussed the potential fallout on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio. Despite a strong regular season and playoff record leading up to the Conference Finals, the team’s inability to advance has prompted uncomfortable questions, as noted in a recent column by Mark Lazerus in The Athletic. Coach Jared Bednar, who is widely respected and likely to find a new position quickly if available, is a focal point of these discussions.
Friedman anticipates significant repercussions, recalling the intense disappointment of general manager Joe Sakic after their first-round exit in the previous season. He emphasized the importance of observing Sakic’s demeanor and the team’s approach to processing the loss. Friedman suggested that the team needs to “take a breath” before making any rash decisions.
While Bednar’s future is being considered, Friedman believes the more pressing question might be regarding assistant general manager Chris MacFarland. MacFarland handles a substantial workload and is crucial to the team’s operations, even with Sakic as the ultimate decision-maker. Although MacFarland is under contract with the Avalanche for at least another year, Nashville has reportedly expressed interest and will likely seek permission to speak with him. Friedman recalled Sakic’s past actions when faced with losing MacFarland, which involved denying permission and subsequently promoting him, highlighting MacFarland’s importance to the organization.
Regarding Bednar, Friedman likened the situation to that of Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh. He acknowledged the risk of losing a highly competent coach and questioned whether it’s simply “time” for a change, a sentiment that can occasionally influence decisions.
Adding another layer to the speculation is the situation with David Carle, who has been reportedly linked to coaching opportunities with the Toronto Maple Leafs and has also been contacted by the Los Angeles Kings. While stressing that Carle is not doing anything wrong, the Avalanche organization might be wondering if circumstances are aligning for him to become their coach, should they view him as the right fit for the future.
The Colorado Avalanche are an aging team. While core players like Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are still in their prime, other key contributors are entering the latter stages of their careers. Goaltending also remains a question mark, with the adage “if you have two goalies, do you have any goalies?” echoing through discussions. The team’s performance was also impacted by significant injuries to key players.
While public sentiment may lean towards replacing coach Jared Bednar, the article questions the fairness of this when star players are injured and the supporting cast falters. The article also points out that front office decisions, such as trading away talent like Mikko Rantanen and Bowen Byram, and letting Darcy Kuemper depart in free agency, have also contributed to the team’s current situation, even with new extensions for players like Martin Necas coming into effect.
Ultimately, the article concludes that Colorado faces numerous questions this offseason but cautions against making emotional decisions. The team is expected to take the necessary time to thoroughly evaluate all aspects before committing to any significant changes.
