During the Avalanche’s rookie camp at Family Sports Center, Jared Bednar was an interested observer — and only an observer.
The new Colorado head coach watched as the organization’s San Antonio Rampage coaching staff ran the on-ice work.
It changes Friday.
After the Avalanche veterans report and go through physicals and testing Thursday, Bednar for the first time will be on the ice as an NHL head coach — or as an NHL anything — when Colorado opens training camp on Friday at Family Sports.
It has been a long climb up the ladder for the 44-year-old former journeyman minor-league defenseman who was an assistant coach and head coach in the ECHL, then added the same jobs on his resume in the American Hockey League.