In a surprising turn of events, former Colorado Avalanche head coach and NHL Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy, now serving as an on-air contributor for Good Karma Brands’ ESPN Madison (WTLX), delivered a bold and unexpected message aimed directly at current Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar during a live segment on Tuesday afternoon.
Roy, who coached the Avalanche from 2013 to 2016 and led the team to a playoff appearance in his first season, didn’t hold back his thoughts when asked about the Avalanche’s recent struggles and Bednar’s coaching decisions during the early stages of the 2025–26 NHL season.
“There comes a time,” Roy said during the broadcast, “when you need to stop leaning on the past and start holding your stars accountable. Jared’s done a great job in Colorado, no doubt — a Cup, consistent contention. But the hunger, the urgency — I don’t see it right now. And someone needs to say it.”
The remark stunned both listeners and fellow broadcasters in the ESPN Madison studio, as Roy continued:
“If I were behind that bench, there’d be a different tone in that locker room. You can’t let complacency creep in. And with the talent they have, there’s no excuse for the kind of lapses we’ve been seeing. I know what winning looks like in Denver — and that’s not it.”
Background on the Tension
While Roy and Bednar have never publicly clashed before, Roy’s unexpected resignation from the Avalanche in 2016 reportedly came after disagreements with upper management over roster control and team direction — the very management that brought in Bednar shortly thereafter.
Since then, Bednar has solidified himself as one of the league’s top coaches, guiding Colorado to a Stanley Cup championship in 2022 and multiple deep playoff runs. However, a sluggish start to this season has raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
Mixed Reactions Across the NHL
Roy’s comments have sparked a wave of reactions across the hockey world. Some former players and analysts praised his honesty and passion, while others criticized him for airing such pointed opinions on-air — especially about a franchise he once led.
Longtime NHL analyst Kevin Weekes weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“Roy was a legend on the ice and behind the bench, but calling out Bednar like that? Risky. This is going to stir the pot in Denver.”
Will Bednar Respond?
As of this publication, neither Jared Bednar nor the Colorado Avalanche organization has issued a statement regarding Roy’s comments. However, insiders suggest that the comments did not go unnoticed within the Avalanche locker room.
With the Avalanche scheduled to face off against the Dallas Stars tomorrow night, all eyes will be on Bednar’s bench — and whether Roy’s sharp critique ignites a stronger response from a team many still consider a top contender for the Cup.
Stay tuned to ESPN Madison and this site for more updates as the story develops.
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