Sakic confirms Roy will return as coach next season

Patrick Roy recently made it clear that he plans on remaining behind the Colorado Avalanche bench, and it looks as though he's not alone on that front.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic was asked if Roy will return as coach next season prior to Colorado's season finale against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday.

"Yes, he will," Sakic said. "We're in this thing together."

Roy won the Jack Adams Award in his first season as coach in 2014, leading the Avalanche to a first place finish, but the season ended in a first-round playoff exit.

After winning the Central Division title, it appeared that Colorado had turned a corner under Roy, but the Avalanche missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season this year.

"We're all learning," Sakic said. "He's got the passion, he's a winner, he wants to win. The players know exactly what he wants ... You don't always look at the coach. For us right now, we have to look and see if the players are going to buy into what it takes to win."

Colorado was in the thick of the playoff race deep into the season, but a five-game losing streak did the Avalanche in.