The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026‑27 season with a salary‑cap ceiling of $104 million, but their current commitments already consume $103.57 million, leaving a sliver of $429 k of breathing room.
At the center of the financial calculus is Cale Makar, whose entry‑level deal could more than double from its $9 million average annual value to as much as $20 million when his next contract arrives, a projection driven by the league‑wide inflation of player salaries.
General manager Joe Sakic and the front office must balance that looming increase with the need to retain Artturi Lehkonen, whose two‑way impact could command a $8 million‑plus annual salary, and Scott Wedgewood, whose recent extension hints at a potential $7 million deal if he replicates his breakout performance.
Third‑line center Nicolas Roy, whose production has dipped, still fits a market trend that values reliable depth centers at roughly $4 million per season, making a multi‑year agreement plausible despite his reduced role.
Makar’s Next Deal and the Avalanche’s Core
The organization also watches the contracts of Mackenzie Blackwood, Jaden Schwartz, and Brock Nelson, each of whom could see modest raises driven by demand for veteran presence and specialization.
Projected cap space for the 2027‑28 campaign stands at $32.921 million, yet re‑signing Makar, Lehkonen, and Wedgewood alone could consume the majority of that buffer, forcing the team to consider short‑term, incentive‑laden agreements for aging players like Josh Manson and Gabriel Landeskog.
Depth Players and Market Valuations
Brent Burns, now 42, is eyeing a 24th NHL season, structuring any extension to defer cap hits into future years, a tactic that could help Colorado manage its tightening cap space.
Veterans such as Logan O’Connor, Devon Toews and Brett Kulak provide depth and versatility, but their contracts are increasingly scrutinized as the Avalanche’s cap flexibility narrows.
Future Cap Projections and Uncertainty
A new collective bargaining agreement slated for 2030‑31 will introduce fresh variables in forecasting cap space, adding another layer of uncertainty to the Avalanche’s long‑term roster construction.