CLEVELAND — In a surprising and emotional shakeup to the Blue Jackets’ extended hockey family, former NHL veteran and respected coach Mark Letestu is departing the Columbus system. Letestu has officially been named to the coaching staff of the Colorado Eagles, the AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche.
This move marks the end of Letestu’s impactful tenure within the Blue Jackets and their AHL affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters, where he served as a development coach and quietly helped shape the next generation of Jackets talent. Letestu’s presence behind the bench and in player development was widely credited for fostering growth in young forwards like Trey Fix-Wolansky and Tyler Angle, and his departure leaves a notable leadership gap.
Letestu, a former Blue Jacket himself with over 500 NHL games played, had become a fixture in the Cleveland hockey community. His transition from playing to coaching seemed seamless, and he was widely praised for his hockey IQ, communication skills, and mentorship of younger players making the difficult leap to professional hockey.
But now, Letestu heads west — and he’s not the first to do so.
This is the latest example of the Colorado Avalanche’s growing pattern of targeting Cleveland’s coaching pipeline. Letestu’s move follows a similar path to other former Monsters staffers who were poached by the Avalanche organization in recent years, a trend that’s beginning to frustrate some in Columbus’ front office.
While Letestu’s departure is undeniably a loss for the Blue Jackets and Monsters, the opportunity to join one of the AHL’s most respected organizations in the Colorado Eagles is a testament to his growing coaching reputation. The Eagles have been known for developing coaches just as effectively as players, and Letestu may very well be on a fast track to an NHL assistant role in the coming seasons.
For the Monsters, the search now begins for a replacement who can match Letestu’s connection to the players and eye for potential. Whoever steps in will inherit a program that Letestu helped build into a key part of Columbus’ player development pipeline.
Letestu’s departure adds to what has already been an offseason of turnover and transition in Columbus. From the hiring of Don Waddell to several key signings and re-signings, the Blue Jackets are entering a new era — and that evolution now includes the loss of one of their most respected voices.
Letestu leaves behind a proud legacy as both a player and a coach in the organization, and his imprint on the next wave of Jackets talent won’t be forgotten anytime soon. His coaching journey continues in Colorado, but his connection to Columbus remains unbreakable.