Stunning update emerges as Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar addresses Martin Necas injury after dirty hit

Jared Bednar didn't hide it afterward. The Avalanche head coach said Necas was doing fine, but the frustration poured out when he described the timing and location of the hit that stopped play and sparked a reaction.

Necas absorbed a controversial, dirty hit from Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley during Colorado's gritty 3-2 victory on Friday night.

Bednar pointed out the puck was already gone, the count had stretched long past reasonable, and the contact came with no hockey purpose attached. His tone mattered as much as the words, sharp and tired, like someone keeping receipts.

Necas, 26, has been a speed driver for Colorado this season, leaning on clean zone entries and quick touch passes. When a player like that absorbs a late hit, coaches worry about more than bruises.

The Avalanche bench responded in the moment, but the bigger issue lingered after the horn. Bednar referenced another late hit earlier in the game, suggesting a pattern rather than a one-off lapse.

It's the kind of moment that sticks with a fan base, especially when the Avalanche have already spent stretches juggling line combinations due to injuries. Watching a key forward get tagged late never feels small.

Necas was acquired to push pace and create off the rush, not to absorb unnecessary punishment away from the puck. Those plays test the league's standard more than they test toughness.

From a tactical view, late hits like that disrupt flow and force benches into protection mode. Coaches shorten shifts, defenders chip pucks out quicker, and skill games flatten into survival shifts.

Colorado did not indicate any follow-up evaluation was needed for Necas, and Bednar's confirmation that he was fine helped cool immediate concern. Still, the message was sent clearly.

The Avalanche want consistency. If the puck is gone and the count is there, the expectation is restraint, not ambiguity. Nights like this remind everyone how thin the line is between hard hockey and needless risk.

For now, Necas moves forward, the Avalanche keep their focus, and fans circle the next game hoping the standard tightens before someone pays a heavier price.