Ray Bennett Became the Scapegoat for Colorado’s Failures
Ray Bennett may have deserved to be let go, but once again, the Colorado Avalanche continue their trend of blaming a single individual for an entire season’s worth of disappointments.
Bennett’s firing had been overdue — it should’ve happened years ago. The Avalanche are still reeling from their loss to the Dallas Stars in Saturday’s Game 7, where they squandered a two-goal lead in the third period. Former Avs star Mikko Rantanen played a key role in eliminating his old team, advancing with the Stars to the second round of the playoffs.
Whenever Colorado falls short, it seems inevitable that someone will be singled out for the blame. For the past few years, that scapegoat was Valeri Nichushkin. During their first-round loss to the Seattle Kraken, he missed the last five games of the series, and the following season, he failed a drug test during their second-round matchup with Dallas, missing three games as the team was ousted in six.
Power Play Struggles Have Been Ongoing
This time, the blame shifted to Ray Bennett, who had been in charge of the team’s power play and forwards. Colorado went just 3-for-22 on the man advantage during their series with Dallas. Bennett’s firing was deserved — there’s no question about that. But the issue that often goes unaddressed is that the power play has been a problem for years, especially in the postseason.
In previous seasons, the focus was entirely on Nichushkin’s struggles, even though the power play was also a major issue. During their series with Seattle, for example, the Avs’ power play converted only 11% of its chances, a figure eerily similar to their recent 13% success rate. Bennett had been on staff since 2017, and it’s curious why his underperformance has only now come under scrutiny.
Bednar’s Position Remains Secure — For Now
Despite the team’s struggles, general manager Chris MacFarland offered unwavering support for head coach Jared Bednar. At the end-of-season press conference, MacFarland made it clear: “100% confident Jared’s our head coach.”
But if Colorado falls short again next season, the pressure will mount on Bednar — and eventually on MacFarland as well. It all depends on what happens this offseason. If MacFarland can make the right moves, such as retaining key players and improving the team’s depth, a turnaround is possible. However, the damage done by the Rantanen trade is something that will linger long after any roster changes.
Team president Joe Sakic also attended the press conference, which was notable given he hasn’t spoken publicly like this since his time as general manager in 2022. It seemed like Sakic was offering MacFarland a subtle vote of confidence, which could mean that MacFarland is feeling some pressure behind the scenes — and perhaps he should.
Key Takeaways
Colorado needs to break free from the habit of blaming one person for the team’s failures. For too long, the focus has been on one scapegoat, and this mindset has hindered the team’s ability to make real progress. It’s time to take a closer look at every player and staff member, making necessary changes across the board. Continuing the cycle of shifting blame will only lead to more excuses and missed opportunities.
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