Bednar to Remain Avalanche Coach After 1st-Round Playoff Exit

Jared Bednar will remain as head coach of the Avalanche despite their early exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. General manager Chris MacFarland reaffirmed the organization’s full confidence in Bednar. The Avalanche finished the regular season with a 49-29-4 record and third place in the Central Division. They were eliminated by the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference First Round, losing 4-2 in Game 7. President of hockey operations Joe Sakic expressed disappointment in the outcome but highlighted the team’s belief in their roster post-trade deadline, saying, “We really liked the team we had. Colorado made several significant moves before the trade deadline, adding key players like forwards Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, and defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Erik Johnson, as well as making other trades earlier in the season to strengthen the lineup. Bednar, who guided the Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022, holds a 390-246-64 record in 700 regular-season games and a 50-35 playoff record. Despite the strong regular-season performance, the Avalanche have only won one playoff series since their 2022 championship run. One factor in their early exit was the team’s power play performance. They converted just 13.6% of opportunities in the first round, compared to the Stars’ 30.4%.

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Krug Not Expected to Play in NHL Again, Says Blues GM

Torey Krug NHL career is likely over, according to St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. The 34-year-old defenseman missed the entire 2024-25 season following left ankle surgery. Armstrong expressed little expectation of Krug returning to the ice, though he acknowledged the player’s hope to prove him wrong. Krug’s injury, stemming from pre-arthritic changes in his left ankle, is a result of a previous bone fracture during his time with the Boston Bruins. Despite rehabilitation efforts, the severity of the injury has made a return to play highly uncertain. Krug spoke emotionally about the possibility of his career ending early, reflecting on the challenges of missing a full season. The veteran defenseman, known for his 13-season career and 483 points, expressed the tough mental and physical toll of the situation. He had spent nine seasons with the Bruins before joining the Blues on a seven-year, . 5 million contract in 2020. Krug’s potential retirement would mark the end of a decorated career, which included multiple playoff appearances and a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2019 with Boston.

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Chargers Rookie Omarion Hampton Eyes ‘Dominant Duo’ with Najee Harris

The Los Angeles Chargers are ushering in a new era in their backfield, and rookie Omarion Hampton is embracing the vision. Selected No. 22 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hampton believes he and newly acquired veteran Najee Harris can form a “dominant duo” under head coach Jim Harbaugh. “We know they’re going to run the ball, so I’m loving it,” Hampton told The Jim Rome Show. “We got me and Najee, a dominant duo backfield. Omarion Hampton brings an elite college résumé, racking up over 2,000 scrimmage yards in his final season at North Carolina and ranking third nationally in total yards. With Harris, the Chargers add proven durability and experience to the equation. Harris has started 68 consecutive games and accumulated over 4,300 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns since 2021. Harbaugh’s ground-and-pound philosophy should suit both backs. Omarion Hampton added, “We know (Harbaugh)’s going to run the ball… he did it all his career, so I’m just excited to get started.” With a strong offensive line and Justin Herbert under center, L.A.’s backfield might be one of the league’s most intriguing storylines in 2025.

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