“Our Breakouts Were Terrible”: Avalanche Coach Jared Bednar Criticizes Team’s Performance Amid Uncertainty Over Landeskog’s Return……………….

“Our Breakouts Were Terrible”: Avalanche Coach Jared Bednar Criticizes Team’s Performance Amid Uncertainty Over Landeskog’s Return……………….

By [Your Name], April 11, 2025

In a critical juncture of the NHL season, Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar didn’t mince words following his team’s underwhelming performance, calling out one of the most fundamental aspects of their game: the breakouts.

“Our breakouts were terrible,” Bednar said bluntly after a recent outing, his tone reflecting both disappointment and urgency. “We didn’t execute. We turned the puck over constantly and put ourselves in tough spots. That’s not how you win hockey games at this point in the season.”

The Avalanche, though still playoff-bound, have not been playing to the level of their potential in recent weeks. What’s most concerning to Bednar is how poorly the team has transitioned out of the defensive zone—something that’s supposed to be second nature at this level.

These structural lapses, particularly against high-pressure teams, are exposing deeper cracks. Too many times, defensemen were caught flat-footed, wingers out of position, and passes up the ice intercepted or iced. It’s the kind of sloppiness that doesn’t just cost you a game—it can end your postseason in the blink of an eye.

Leadership Vacuum?

Further complicating matters is the lingering absence of team captain Gabriel Landeskog, whose leadership and on-ice presence are sorely missed.

The 32-year-old forward, sidelined since lifting the Stanley Cup in 2022, has not played a single NHL game in nearly two full seasons. Battling chronic knee issues, Landeskog underwent a rare cartilage transplant surgery in May 2023—a move seen as both hopeful and highly uncertain in terms of recovery.

Now, as the Avalanche push into the playoffs, Landeskog’s potential return remains up in the air. He’s currently skating in the AHL with the Colorado Eagles on a conditioning stint, trying to regain game speed. But even that glimmer of hope comes with caution.

“He’s progressing,” said Bednar. “He’s doing everything right. But it’s not going to happen until he says he’s ready, and until that date on the timeline is reached. We’re not rushing him back.”

Bednar confirmed that Landeskog won’t play in the first round against Dallas, a major blow to a team still struggling with consistency. The coach was clear: no return will happen before the set date, even if the Avalanche are desperate for a spark.

A Team Searching for Identity

With or without Landeskog, the Avalanche are at a crossroads. They’ve shown flashes of the team that won it all two years ago, but those glimpses are often followed by periods of disarray. Goaltending has been solid, and offensive stars like Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen are producing—but the team-wide cohesion is missing.

“It’s not just about talent,” Bednar emphasized. “It’s about discipline, communication, and execution. We’ve got to clean that up—fast.”

While the Avalanche are still viewed as a legitimate contender, their margin for error is shrinking. In a Western Conference stacked with speed, grit, and depth, there’s no room for sloppy execution or reliance on stars alone.

The Road Ahead

The immediate future will test the Avalanche’s resilience. They face a physical, well-structured Dallas Stars team in the opening round of the playoffs—a matchup that punishes slow breakouts and rewards disciplined systems. Without their captain and facing internal questions about accountability, the pressure is mounting.

Still, Bednar remains steadfast. He’s not sugarcoating the problems, but he’s also not giving up on this group.

“This is a locker room full of warriors,” he said. “But they’ve got to play like it—every shift, every period. We know what’s at stake. It’s time to get to work.”