Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have reached a significant agreement, with Makar signing an eight-year contract extension worth $163.2 million US. This deal establishes him as the highest-paid player in NHL history. The confirmation of the terms came from his agency, Bartlett Hockey.
Makar’s extension sets a new record in the NHL, surpassing the previous high set by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild with an eight-year, $136 million contract signed last year. Makar’s contract will run until the 2034-35 season, with an annual average value of $20.4 million starting from the 2027-28 season, exceeding the previous top deal held by Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
This historic agreement for Makar may set a trend for even higher contracts in the future, especially with upcoming negotiations for star players like Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Expressing his excitement, Makar shared in a video on social media that he is thrilled to continue his journey with the Avalanche in Denver. The defenseman acknowledged the significance of the day and expressed optimism for the years ahead.
Makar, 27, is coming off a remarkable season with 20 goals and 59 assists, finishing as a runner-up to Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the Norris Trophy voting for the league’s top defenseman. Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, had a cap hit of $9 million last season under his previous contract before signing this lucrative extension.
The Avalanche’s management, led by president of hockey operations/general manager Joe Sakic, made securing Makar’s long-term commitment a top priority this off-season. Selected fourth overall in the 2017 draft from the University of Massachusetts, Makar is seen as a cornerstone player for Colorado’s future success.
Makar’s new deal will coincide with an expected salary cap of $113.5 million in 2027-28, where he will account for a significant portion as a key player on a championship-contending team. The Avalanche will need to make decisions on other pending free agents, including Artturi Lehkonen, Nicolas Roy, and Scott Wedgewood.
Despite a challenging end to the previous season with an injury during the playoffs, Makar is anticipated to be fully ready for the upcoming training camp. Sakic’s strategic moves, including trading Valeri Nichushkin to create salary cap space, paved the way for finalizing Makar’s contract extension.
Sakic praised Makar as a generational talent and expressed enthusiasm for having him on the team for the next decade. Makar’s impressive career milestones, including multiple 20-goal seasons and reaching his 500th NHL point in record time, underscore his exceptional contributions to the Avalanche’s success.
The core trio of Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog played a pivotal role in the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup victory in 2022. Makar’s standout performance during the championship run earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ Most Valuable Player.
In a unique family connection, Makar’s brother, Taylor, also joined the Avalanche on a two-year contract extension. The brothers made history by becoming the first siblings to play in the same game for Colorado. Makar expressed gratitude for the support from the organization and the fans, emphasizing his commitment to pursuing another Stanley Cup win for the city of Denver.
