Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar reacts to firing of Michael Malone
Apr 9, 2025, 2:40 PM
Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar and former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone ultimately have the same big boss.
And that’s Nuggets and Avs owner Josh Kroenke.
On Tuesday, Kroenke shocked the NBA world when he fired Malone along with Nuggets GM Calvin Booth. With just three games to go in the regular season, both men were out of a job.
And Malone had worked for KSE since he was hired as the Nuggets coach in June of 2015. Bednar wasn’t all that far behind, joining the Avalanche behind the bench in August of 2016.
While the two sports are totally different, both guys have called Ball Arena home for nearly a decade. And in that timespan, the Avalanche and Nuggets both won championships.
Plus, KSE puts on events in which Bednar and Malone have interacted before, some of those on an annual basis.
After the Avs beat the Golden Knights on Tuesday night, it was only logical for Bednar to get asked about Malone’s dismissal.
Jared Bednar shares his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets firing head coach Michael Malone. #GoAvsGo | #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/x42a1bzNqR
— Guerilla Sports (@guerillasports_) April 9, 2025
“It’s tough decisions, competitive. You know, business,” Bednar said. “I hate to see it because I’ve gotten to know him a little bit over the course of the time. He’s done a heck of a job here.”
You can tell Bednar is choosing his words carefully, but also he feels bad for Michael Malone. In fact, Malone’s title in the summer of 2023 came more recently than Bednar’s in the summer of 2022.
“He was able to bring a championship here so those are always tough decisions for the organization. Heart always goes out to those guys. I hate to see it, but sometimes you know it happens in this business,” Bednar said.
And while Josh Kroenke is largely regarded as more involved in basketball than hockey, you have to wonder what’s going on in Bednar’s mind. The Avalanche will have a very tough Round 1 series coming up in the NHL playoffs, against almost assuredly the Dallas Stars.
If they come up short, who knows what could happen?
Regardless, let’s hope that’s a moot point and both the Avs and Nuggets play deep into the summer. Although only Jared Bednar will be leading his team, as Michael Malone came just shy of making it 10 years in Denver.
