Jared Bednar returns in time for playoffs after terrible bench incident
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Cimon Asselin
Apr 16, 2026 (3:37 PM)
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Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Jared Bednar is back behind the Colorado Avalanche bench just days after taking a puck to the face.
It happened in a split second. A deflection came off the boards and caught him flush behind the bench.
The result was serious. Bednar dealt with facial fractures and a corneal abrasion, forcing him out immediately.
He missed two games while the team went on the road.
Colorado didn't slip.
They went 2-0 during that stretch, pushing their record to 54-16-11 with 119 points late in the season.
That response says a lot about where this team is right now.
Avalanche get boost as Jared Bednar returns after shocking injury
Bednar returned Thursday night against the Seattle Kraken and took his usual spot behind the bench.
No buildup. No easing back into it.
Just right back to managing the game.
He isn't changing his routine either.
No added protection. No helmet. Nothing different in how he handles the bench during live play.
But one comment stood out.
Keep your hands out of your pockets.
That's the adjustment he pointed to after the incident, a reminder of how little reaction time exists behind an NHL bench.
Even for a coach who sees everything develop in front of him.
He even joked he would have needed elite reflexes to avoid that puck, keeping the tone light after a tough moment.
Inside the room, that approach carries weight.
Players notice when a coach takes a hit like that and comes right back without making it about himself.
That's leadership that translates.
Timing matters here.
The playoffs start this weekend, and Colorado gets its head coach back just as details tighten and bench decisions become critical.
Assistants held things steady, but Bednar controls matchups, line flow, and adjustments on the fly.
That's where his presence changes games.
The Avalanche still have some injury questions, but Bednar made it clear he expects options for Game 1.
That's a team preparing to be full.
Now the bench is back to normal, the voice is back in place, and the Avalanche head into the postseason with everything lined up.
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