Colorado Eagles have a new head coach

Mark Letestu arrives from the Columbus Blue Jackets organization.

A major transaction occurred over the holiday weekend for the Colorado Eagles and that was a hire of their new head coach. To no one’s surprise, the Colorado Avalanche organization looked to their friends over at the Columbus Blue Jackets and nabbed their AHL assistant coach Mark Letestu for the promotion to bench boss in Loveland.

Letestu was a center who enjoyed an 11-year NHL career in which he amassed 567 games played at the highest level with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. Though he began his pro career in the Penguins organization, Letestu put down roots with Columbus and served as an assistant coach for the AHL’s Cleveland Monsters for the last four seasons.

Photo by Jamie Sabau/NHLI via Getty Images

The Colorado Eagles are no stranger to change as head coach Greg Cronin departed for the NHL two years ago. Now with Aaron Schneekloth in Seattle it is time for Letestu to leave his mark on the organization. The Eagles enjoyed their best regular season to date in the AHL but are still searching for the answer to more playoff success. The Monsters has similar results with Letestu as they went as far as to the third round of the playoffs in 2023-24.

Coincidentally, or not, Letestu would be familiar with new Avalanche prospect Gavin Brindley, who played for the Monsters last season. He was underutilized and only scored 17 points in 52 games so hopefully both come up with a plan to find a bit more success in Colorado.

Welcome to Eagles Country, Mark!