Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have reached a landmark agreement on a contract extension worth $163.2 million US over eight years, establishing him as the highest-paid player in NHL history. Bartlett Hockey, Makar’s agency, has confirmed the details of the deal. This extension sets a new record in NHL history, surpassing the previous high set by Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov with an eight-year, $136 million extension last year. The contract binds Makar with the Avalanche until the 2034-35 season, with an annual average value of $20.4 million starting in 2027-28, surpassing San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini’s recent five-year, $94 million extension with an $18.8 million AAV.
Makar’s unprecedented deal could potentially elevate salary expectations for other top players like Connor McDavid of Edmonton and Auston Matthews of Toronto, who are eligible for extensions next year. Makar expressed his enthusiasm for continuing his journey with the Avalanche in Denver, calling it a historic day and looking forward to the next nine years.
The 27-year-old Makar, who recently had a stellar season with 20 goals and 59 assists, came in second in the Norris Trophy voting behind Zach Werenski of Columbus, who won the award for the league’s top defenseman. Makar, a two-time recipient of the award, had a cap hit of $9 million last season under his previous six-year, $54 million contract signed in 2021, setting a new benchmark for standout defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Werenski.
Securing Makar’s long-term commitment was a key objective for Avalanche’s president of hockey operations/general manager Joe Sakic this off-season, affirming that Makar would remain with the team throughout his career. Drafted fourth overall in 2017 from the University of Massachusetts, Makar’s new deal aligns with the projected salary cap of $113.5 million in 2027-28, where he is expected to consume around 18% of the cap space on a team with championship aspirations.
Despite a challenging end to the previous season with an injury in the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sakic is confident that Makar will be ready for the upcoming training camp. The Avalanche made strategic moves, including trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks, to create room for negotiating Makar’s extension. Sakic commended Makar as a generational defenseman, emphasizing his exceptional skills, character, and contributions to the team and the community.
Makar’s impressive career achievements include four 20-goal seasons, placing him among the elite group of defensemen in NHL history. He reached his 500th NHL point in his 467th game, becoming the fourth-fastest defenseman to achieve this milestone, following legends like Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, and Denis Potvin. Makar, alongside key players like Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, played a pivotal role in the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup victory, where Makar’s stellar performance earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP.
In a heartwarming touch, Makar’s brother, Taylor, recently signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche, ensuring both siblings will be part of the team through the 2027-28 season. Cale Makar expressed gratitude for the support from Colorado, referring to it as a second home, and expressed eagerness to hit the ice with his teammates to pursue their collective goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to the Mile High City.