Colorado Avalanche will be well represented when the Bell Center is filled with Maple Leaf Flag-waving patron next week, but there is another guy who should be there.

Nathan Mackinnon, Cale Makar and Devon Toews will all draw on Canadian jerseys for the first time in a best international tournament when 2025 4-nations Face-off starts Wednesday evening in Montreal with Canada in front of Sweden. It will be an incredible moment for all three, a lifelong dream that was realized and one that they have had to wait much longer than expected to fulfill.

Their coaches should stand on the bench behind them.

Jared Bednar has been one of the most successful NHL coaches since he arrived at Denver. There are many large Canadian -born coaches in the league, but it is difficult to find three or four more deserving than prayers.

“His winning percentage over the last 6, 7, 8 years must be up there with someone,” Mackinnon said. “He has also had a lot of adversity to handle. I don’t think he has ever had a healthy team, which is tough. I adopted 2021-22 (the squad), it was his healthiest team and we were the best in the league. “

Tampa Bay’s Jon Cooper will be the head coach of Canada at both the 4 Nations tournament, which will be shared between Montreal and Boston, and 2026 Winter -Oos in Milan, Italy. Cooper is a deserving choice.

He is one of two current coaches with several Stanley Cup rings and a lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame. The other guy with multiple titles is Mike Sullivan, who will train the United States.

Cooper’s assistants are Peter Deboer, Bruce Cassidy and Rick Tochet. Everyone is very good NHL head coach. Deboer can be the best coach in the league who has not lifted the Stanley Cup. Cassidy won it two years ago with Vegas. Nothing against Tochet, but Bednar would have been an excellent choice for the last place.

“Sure, yes. Why not? “Bednar said when asked about coaching for Canada is a career goal. “If you ever get that opportunity to go, it would be exciting for someone.

“I look forward to looking at this. It’s been a while since we’ve seen it. I think the players are pretty excited about it. Representing your country is something that is exciting for everyone involved – players, coaches, coaches, everyone who is allowed to go. I’m glad it will be back. “

Bednar has won the Stanley Cup. He has ruled a championship challenger through a variety of injuries, including losing his heart-and-soul captain for almost three years now.

The call from Hockey Canada still has not happened.

“It’s a big, good question,” spouses said as he asked why Bednar has never trained for Canada. “I mean, I don’t really know. I think they are always looking for different styles of coaches. You would think he will be there sometime. I would be cool for him to represent us because he has had so much success here.

“I would love to see him there. I’m sure he’ll be a day. “

Bednars team has collected 762 points since the start of the 2017-18 season. It’s third behind Boston and Tampa Bay. ATS also has the most victories since 2019-20 and second most, behind Bruins.

His team has obviously had a very talented list, but one of Bednare’s strengths as a coach is how he handles his best players – both on and off the ice. It feels like an important feature. Canada’s list will always be filled with fantastic players.

“I think he’s a phenomenal coach,” Mackinnon said. “You can tell how hard he works. He is always very well prepared. His video is detailed. Pre-scouts are detailed. When we go over our game it is quite clear. I wish we might have had a better season for him, and he could have got the nod for Canada. “

Bednar is one of the best coaches in the league to not only include the use of analysis, but integrate them into all aspects of his job. ABS is a model franchise with how the information flows at all levels, so much that Winnipeg’s new coaching staff went out after Colorado crushed Jets in the opening round last season.

This season may be Bednar’s best coaching job since he arrived in Denver. The AVs have been besieged by injuries and accessibility issues from the beginning. He had to integrate two new goalkeepers and handle the fall after Colorado traded one of the best players in the world in Most amazing NHL trading in the season in two decades.

And yet AVs are still only four points back by Edmonton Oilers, who has the second best record in the West and is third in total in the league, after defeat them Friday night at Rogers Place.