BREAKING NEWS: Former Colorado Avalanche HC Joel Quenneville now the with Anaheim Ducks, sent a message to Avalanche current HC Jared Bednar concerning his.. 

In a moment that blended mutual respect, mentorship, and competitive spirit, former Colorado Avalanche head coach Joel Quenneville—now leading the Anaheim Ducks—sent a message to current Avalanche bench boss Jared Bednar ahead of their upcoming matchup. The message, described by those close to both coaches as “genuine and classy,” underscores the deep ties that connect members of the NHL coaching fraternity, particularly those who’ve shared a history in the same organization.

Quenneville, who guided the Avalanche from 2005 to 2008 before moving on to legendary success with the Chicago Blackhawks, has watched Colorado’s recent dominance under Bednar with admiration. According to sources close to the Ducks organization, Quenneville reached out earlier this week to commend Bednar for his leadership, resilience, and the culture of consistency he’s built in Denver.

> “What you’ve done with that group is something special,” Quenneville’s message reportedly read in part. “It’s not easy to sustain success in this league, but you’ve managed to do it the right way—by getting buy-in, by developing players, and by staying true to your system.”

The two men have never worked directly together, but there’s a quiet lineage of coaching philosophy that connects them. Quenneville, known for his tactical discipline and steady locker-room presence, set a precedent during his time in Colorado that emphasized defensive structure and accountability. Bednar, in many ways, has modernized those same principles—building a fast, aggressive Avalanche team that thrives on speed, creativity, and relentless pressure.

Bednar, who led Colorado to the 2022 Stanley Cup, was reportedly touched by Quenneville’s words. Following Friday’s morning skate, Bednar briefly addressed the exchange when asked about it by reporters.

> “It means a lot,” Bednar said. “Coach Q is one of the best to ever do it. He’s a competitor, but he’s also someone who understands how hard it is to win in this league. Hearing from someone with his experience—especially before a game like this—means more than people might realize.”

The message came at an interesting time. The Avalanche have surged out of the gate this season, boasting one of the league’s top records behind stellar play from Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. The Ducks, meanwhile, are in the midst of a rebuild, but Quenneville’s influence has already begun to show—young players like Mason McTavish and Leo Carlsson are flourishing under his guidance.

While there’s no personal rivalry between Quenneville and Bednar, both understand the symbolic weight of their meeting. For Colorado fans, Quenneville remains a respected figure—a coach who helped transition the team into the modern NHL era. For Anaheim, he represents a new era of credibility and championship pedigree.

When asked if he and Quenneville had spoken beyond the message, Bednar smiled.

> “We traded a couple texts,” he said. “It’s all respect. We both want to win, obviously, but there’s always room in this game for appreciation. He’s been where I want to go again.”

As the Avalanche prepare to face the Ducks, the storylines are abundant: a mentor and a successor, two coaching minds from different eras of the same franchise, now squaring off on opposite benches. But beneath the competition lies something deeper—a reminder that in the NHL, respect is earned not only by winning, but by how you carry yourself through the grind of a long season.

For Quenneville and Bednar, it’s a full-circle moment—proof that hockey, even at its most cutthroat, still leaves room for connection and class.