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Colorado Avalanche Name Brett McLean Assistant Coach

The team hired the former NHL player to fill the coaching vacancy left by the departure of Dave Hakstol.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Hockey

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a hockey coach standing on a bench, rendered in Colorado Avalanche team colors.
The Colorado Avalanche have appointed Brett McLean as an assistant coach, filling the role vacated by Dave Hakstol's departure for Arizona State. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Colorado Avalanche have added Brett McLean to their coaching staff to replace Dave Hakstol. Hakstol departed the team to accept a head coaching position at Arizona State University.

Why it matters

The change in personnel behind the bench brings a new voice to the Avalanche staff as the team adjusts its coaching leadership. McLean joins an existing group that includes Jared Bednar, Nolan Pratt, Jussi Parkkila, and Brett Heimlich.

Brett McLean, 48, played 385 games in the NHL during his career. He still holds the all-time records for the Kelowna Rockets with 166 goals, 209 assists, and 375 total points.

The players

Brett McLean

He is a 48-year-old former NHL player who holds multiple scoring records from his time with the Kelowna Rockets.

Dave Hakstol

He is the former Avalanche assistant coach who left the organization to become the head coach of the Arizona State University men's hockey team.

Jared Bednar

He serves as the head coach of the Colorado Avalanche and leads the current coaching staff.

The details

McLean began his professional coaching career in 2017 and previously served as an assistant for the Vancouver Canucks. His hiring follows the vacancy created when Dave Hakstol exited the organization for the college ranks in Tempe, Arizona.

Timeline

  1. Brett McLean played for the Kelowna Rockets from 1995 to 1999.

  2. McLean recorded career-best figures of 40 points and 31 assists during the 2005-06 season.

  3. He transitioned into professional coaching in 2017.

  4. McLean officially joined the Colorado Avalanche staff on October 16, 2026.

Season Trajectory

This staff adjustment reflects the ongoing fluidity within the NHL coaching ranks during the active season. The move highlights how teams continuously pivot to maintain stability within their organizational structures following sudden departures.

Fans in Denver should monitor how the updated staff duties affect game-day strategy and special teams performance. McLean's specific integration into the current bench rotation led by Jared Bednar will be a point of interest for team systems.

The takeaway

The addition of Brett McLean provides the Avalanche with a veteran presence who brings extensive playing experience and prior coaching work to the staff. This transition helps the team maintain its operational momentum following the exit of a key assistant.

Further reading

For more updates on local team changes, visit Denver Hockey.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Castanet.

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