Bednar on – Gabe Bednar broke down why John Tortorella’s coaching style pushes teams beyond their comfort zones as the Colorado Avalanche prepare for a Western Conference Final showdown that pits a veteran core against a Vegas team they describe as an elite, dangerous tes
The Avalanche don’t have to imagine what comes next. Colorado’s next opponent is the Vegas Golden Knights — and the matchup brings back familiar energy between coaches who know how high-stakes hockey tightens everything.
Gabe Bednar described Tortorella’s approach in a way that sounds less like strategy talk and more like a test. Tortorella, Bednar said, is strong at communicating what he needs from each player — or groups of players — and then pushing them out of their comfort zones.
“Like, that’s what he does,” Bednar said. “So, like, they’re playing a similar style. It may be the exact same style as with Bruce. and obviously Bruce got the most out of that team too. They won in 2023. I see this as a little bit maybe of a veteran group that was pretty comfortable through the course of the season. and then they add the coach that’s going to push them out of that comfort zone.”.
For Bednar, it’s not only about the message. It’s also about timing — and about when that pressure lands.
“It’s also timing. Like, veteran team, guys that have won, not in a panic, in the playoffs, wherever we seed, we seed, and then, like, dialing it up at the right time too. … This is who Vegas is. This is a very dangerous, very good hockey team.”
Vegas, Bednar said, will be “the biggest test” Colorado has faced — and the feeling is mutual. The Golden Knights will test the Avalanche just as hard.
Colorado enters the series with momentum that’s hard to ignore. The Avalanche are 8-1 in the playoffs after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings in the first round and eliminating the Minnesota Wild in five games in the second.
But Tortorella framed the challenge with certainty, saying Colorado’s opponent is not just strong — it has been playing like the best team in the league.
Tortorella said they have been the best team in the NHL “by far.”
“We know what we’re up against,” he said. “We respect them. But we’re going to play. We’ll be there tomorrow night to play. We’ll be prepared, they’ll be prepared, and we’ll see where it all goes.”
In this matchup, comfort matters — and so does whether a coach can take it away at the right moment. Colorado’s playoff run has been built on execution under pressure, while Tortorella’s reputation, as Bednar put it, is for communicating relentlessly and then pushing players outside what feels safe.
One way or another, that push is arriving at the biggest time of the year. Vegas brings the danger, Colorado brings the track record, and both sides insist they’ll be ready the moment the game starts tomorrow night.
Western Conference Final Colorado Avalanche Vegas Golden Knights Bednar Tortorella NHL playoffs veteran team playoffs timing