Colorado's new coaching hire is quickly raising eyebrows
Photo credit: Helen H. Richardson / The Denver Post
The Colorado Avalanche announced today that Mark Letestu has been appointed as the new head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Letestu, 40, has served as an assistant coach for the past four seasons with the Cleveland Monsters, the AHL affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Colorado Eagles hire their new bench boss.
Aaron Schneekloth, the former head coach of the Eagles has been appointed as an assistant coach for the NHL's Seattle Kraken in June.
During Letestu's tenure from the 2021-22 through 2024-25 seasons, the Monsters posted a 136-117-23-16 regular-season record. The team made the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of the last two years, winning the North Division in 2023-24 and reaching the Conference Finals before falling to the eventual champion Hershey Bears. Letestu also brings earlier coaching experience from a stint as an assistant in the Alberta Junior Hockey League during the 2012-13 season.
"A centerman in his playing days, Letestu's tenure with Cleveland saw the team boast a 60-point scorer in each of the last two seasons, while clearing 200 goals as a team all four campaigns - finishing as high as ninth in the AHL in 2023-24 with 233. That 2023-24 season also saw the team rank in the AHL's top-half in power-play percentage (20.7%, 11th) and power-play goals (62, 7th). The Monsters' back-to-back Calder Cup Playoff berths marked the first time the franchise ever accomplished the feat." -NHL.com
Here's what Avalanche Assistant General Manager Kevin McDonald had to say following the hire...
«We're excited to welcome Mark to the Avalanche and Eagles family. Mark has quickly established himself as an up-and-coming coach in the American Hockey League and we feel he's the perfect fit to lead the Eagles moving forward.» -MacDonald
Here's what Letestu had to say following the news...
"I am very grateful to both the Avalanche and Eagles for this opportunity. I am excited and ready for this challenge to lead their AHL franchise. Thank you to the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic, Chris MacFarland and Kevin McDonald for their trust in me, as well as a big thank you to Martin Lind, Ryan Bach and the entire Eagles organization. Most importantly thanks to my family for all of their support throughout my playing career and now my coaching career. I can't wait to get the season going.» -Letestu
Before beginning his professional coaching career in 2021-22, Letustu played parts of 14 seasons in pro hockey after signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins as an undrafted free agent on March 22, 2007.
His NHL resume includes 567 regular-season games with the Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets, where he totaled 210 points (93 goals, 117 assists). He also contributed 15 points (6 goals, 9 assists) across 36 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.
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