A Deal That Rewrites the Record Books
Colorado Avalanche star defenseman Cale Makar has agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract, the largest in NHL history, locking the 27-year-old into the franchise through his prime and into his mid-30s.
The agreement, first reported by The Athletic, replaces Makar’s current $9 million annual deal and guarantees him a total value that surpasses Kirill Kaprizov’s $136 million contract, cementing his place at the top of the league’s earnings hierarchy.
Makar’s new deal includes an average annual value of roughly $20.4 million, pushing his single-season earnings past $20 million for the first time in league history. The contract’s cap hit of $22.7 million will count against a salary cap projected to rise to $113.5 million in the 2027-28 season, a figure that reflects the league’s growing financial muscle.
A Career Defined by Excellence
The defenseman’s résumé reads like a trophy case: he captured the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, earned two Norris Trophies as the best defenseman, contributed to a Stanley Cup championship, and was named Most Valuable Player of the 2025 playoffs. Internationally, Makar helped Canada secure silver at the 2026 Olympics and was a key member of the 4 Nations Face-Off-winning squad in 2025.
Last season, despite missing the opening two games of the Western Conference final due to injury, Makar led the Avalanche to the Presidents’ Trophy with 79 points in 75 games, becoming the first defenseman since Mike Green in 2008-09 to reach the 30-goal plateau in a single campaign.
The contract also marks the final eight-year agreement permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement; future deals will be limited to seven years, adding a strategic layer to long-term planning for teams and players alike.
Makar’s extension is expected to ripple through the free-agent market, influencing negotiations for other top defensemen such as Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild, who may now seek comparable terms.
Beyond the numbers, the deal underscores the Avalanche’s commitment to retaining a cornerstone of their roster. By securing Makar through age 36, Colorado aims to build on its recent successes and maintain competitiveness as the league’s salary landscape evolves.