Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar skipped the traditional post-game video review following a sloppy 6-2 defeat to the Nashville Predators, opting instead to trust his players’ self-awareness. “I’m going to show them how bad we were?” Bednar reasoned, highlighting a growing frustration with the team’s recent performance. The Avalanche, widely considered Stanley Cup favorites, have struggled to find consistency, currently sitting in the middle of the NHL pack with a 6-5-1 record through 12 games. This early-season stumble contrasts sharply with last year’s dominant run, where the team led the league standings from early November en route to winning the Presidents’ Trophy for the best regular-season record.
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The current struggles are particularly concerning given the team’s recent history, specifically the painful sweep by the Vegas Golden Knights in last May’s Western Conference finals. While the Avalanche have managed slow starts in previous seasons, this one feels more poignant due to the high expectations and the lingering sting of that playoff exit. Bednar acknowledged the psychological weight of the situation, noting that “the most recent (slow start) or the one you’re going through always feels worse — until it’s gone.” He emphasized that winning requires the bulk of the roster to operate at 90% of their potential or higher, a standard the team has yet to consistently meet this season.
Defensive vulnerabilities and a lackluster power play have been the primary culprits behind the Avalanche’s shaky start. Bednar warned that having even two to three players operating at 50% or 60% efficiency is a recipe for failure in today’s high-caliber league. “The league’s too good,” he stated, underscoring the thin margin for error in the NHL. As the Avalanche prepare to host the New Jersey Devils, the pressure is on to correct these defensive lapses and power-play inefficiencies. Failure to elevate the entire roster to peak performance quickly will likely jeopardize Colorado’s status as a top contender for the Stanley Cup.
Source: Yahoo Sports
