from Mike Chambers of the Denver Post,
Avalanche left wing Gabe Landeskog acknowledged Thursday that he was pleased to learn he will remain captain and that new coach Jared Bednar represents change from something that wasn’t working.
Landeskog, who is preparing for his sixth NHL season, and fellow Swede Carl Soderberg practiced under Bednar for the first time Thursday. Both were given a couple days off after Sweden was eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.
“It needs to be said that I respected Patty on and off the ice and I enjoyed working with him for three years,” Landeskog said about former coach Patrick Roy, who abruptly resigned Aug. 11 after two nonplayoff seasons. “But I’m really exited about having Jared here. It feels like he brings in a lot of fresh air and comes in with a lot of optimism about this group. It feels like he believes in us.”
Under Roy, the Avs played too much in their own zone. Shots-against average was among the league’s highest, which limited time in the offensive zone. Bednar wants to push the pace with a north-south breakout that doesn’t allow the puck going backward.
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