What "curious" actually means for Toronto and Edmonton in the Jared Bednar coaching story

David Pagnotta reported that both the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers are monitoring what happens with Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar.

That word - curious - is not the same as pursuing.

In NHL front-office language, curious means a name is flagged on a whiteboard in case a situation changes.

It is not an interview.

It is not an offer.

Bednar still has a job in Colorado.

He guided the Avalanche to 121 regular-season points this past season before a stunning sweep exit against the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final.

Colorado has not announced any intention to move on from a Stanley Cup-winning coach who is under contract through 2026-27.

Until that changes, any interest from Toronto or Edmonton is entirely theoretical.

The Edmonton Oilers fired Kris Knoblauch after a first-round exit to the Anaheim Ducks and are now searching for their tenth head coach in fifteen years.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have publicly flagged concerns about the championship window closing.

Edmonton has already formally interviewed Craig Berube, with that meeting running three to four hours according to TSN.

Peter Laviolette has also reportedly spoken with the organization.

Toronto, meanwhile, has conducted over twenty interviews under GM John Chayka and is now narrowing toward in-person finalists.

Both teams need a coach this summer.

Bednar is not available at the moment despite the curiosity.

Monitoring a situation and landing a coach are separated by one enormous variable - Colorado actually releasing him - and nothing suggests that is coming.

Curious is the beginning of a story, not the end of one.