Avalanche Hire Mark Popovic as Skills Coach

The Avalanche have made another addition to their coaching staff on Wednesday, hiring Mark Popovic as their new skills coach.

Popovic, 42, was drafted 35th overall in 2001 by the Anaheim Ducks and played 81 regular-season NHL games with the Ducks and Atlanta Thrashers. He went on to extend his career for seven more years overseas before retiring in 2017. Popovic was a defenseman during his playing days, but has been around the Avs for a few years in a consultant role. He now gets a full-time opportunity.

The native of Stoney Creek, Ontario is also the founder of IGNITE HOCKEY — a hockey development company based out of Colorado.

Following a tragic bus accident in 2018, the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL hired Popovic as their director of personal development and leadership, as well as a skills coach. Popovic held that role for a few years.

Popovic replaces the recently departed Toby Petersen, who held the position for two years before joining the Dallas Stars organization as an AHL head coach earlier this offseason.