Denver, CO – The Colorado Avalanche are not a playoff team this year, but head coach Joe Sacco will remain the bench boss for another two seasons regardless.
The organization signed Sacco to a two-year contract extension through the 2013-14 season on Wednesday.
"Joe has earned the opportunity to lead this young team," Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman said. "Our club made significant strides this season and we look forward to continuing that next season."
The Avs finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 41-35-6 mark and 88 points, seven behind Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Colorado was the youngest team in the NHL and placed third in the Northwest Division, trailing Vancouver and Calgary.
"Our team competed hard and battled all year long," said Sacco. "This group had a lot of energy and they are eager to keep working hard and improving."
Sacco guided Colorado to a 43-30-9 record (95 points) in his 2009-10 rookie season behind the bench. The squad became the first team in the West to make the playoffs after finishing last in the conference the previous year since the 2000-01 league expansion. The Avs have accrued a 114-109-23 record over three NHL campaigns under Sacco.
Before taking the job in Denver, Sacco was the head coach of the AHL's Lake Erie Monsters for two seasons.
A native of the Boston suburbs, Sacco was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1987. Over a 13-year NHL career, he also played for Anaheim, Washington, Philadelphia and the New York Islanders. In 738 games he scored 94 goals and added 119 assists.
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