Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have reached a groundbreaking agreement on a new eight-year contract extension valued at $163.2 million US. This deal positions Makar as the highest-paid player in NHL history. Bartlett Hockey, his agency, has confirmed the terms of this historic contract.
The extension for Makar is now the most lucrative in NHL history, surpassing the previous record set by Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov with an eight-year, $136 million deal signed last year. Running through the 2034-35 season, Makar’s contract carries an annual average value of $20.4 million starting from the 2027-28 season, outshining the recent $94 million extension signed by San Jose Sharks’ standout, Macklin Celebrini.
The record-breaking deal for Makar could potentially set new benchmarks in the league, particularly with star players like Edmonton’s Connor McDavid and Toronto’s Auston Matthews eligible for extensions next year. Makar expressed his excitement about the extension, stating his commitment to the Avalanche and the city of Denver for another nine years in a social media video shared by the team.
Throughout the previous season, the 27-year-old Makar showcased impressive performance with 20 goals and 59 assists. Despite finishing as the runner-up to Columbus’ Zach Werenski in the Norris Trophy voting for the league’s top defenseman, Makar has won the award twice in his career. His cap hit for last season stood at $9 million following a six-year, $54 million contract in 2021, setting a new standard for fellow top defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Werenski.
Colorado’s President of Hockey Operations and General Manager, Joe Sakic, prioritized securing Makar’s long-term services this off-season, affirming that Makar would remain with the Avalanche for his entire career. The team drafted Makar as the fourth overall pick in 2017 from the University of Massachusetts.
As Makar’s new deal commences in the 2027-28 season, with a projected salary cap of $113.5 million, he is expected to account for around 18% of the team’s cap space. Sakic, who recently resumed the role of general manager after a staff change, orchestrated various deals to facilitate Makar’s extension, including sending Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks.
Makar, who was injured during the Western Conference final where the Avalanche faced the Vegas Golden Knights, is set to be fully recovered for the upcoming training camp. The core trio of Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and Gabriel Landeskog played a pivotal role in Colorado’s Stanley Cup victory in 2022, with Makar earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP. Makar’s younger brother, Taylor, also signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche, marking a unique milestone as the first siblings to play in the same game for the team.
“I am grateful for the support and look forward to hitting the ice with my teammates to pursue our shared goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to Denver,” Makar said, emphasizing his commitment to the team and the city.