The Colorado Avalanche announced Tuesday that forward Taylor Makar has agreed to a two‑year contract extension that will keep him under team control through the 2027‑28 season. The deal, which includes a modest salary bump and a performance‑based clause, reflects the club’s confidence in the 25‑year‑old’s rapid development.
Makar’s breakout campaign in the American Hockey League last year saw him register 24 points in 52 games for the Colorado Eagles, the AHL affiliate of the Avalanche, and he added a further six points across 17 playoff contests. His 25‑point showing helped the Eagles reach the Western Conference Final, underscoring his ability to translate collegiate success to the professional stage.
A Collegiate Journey
Before turning pro, Makar completed a four‑year stint at the University of Maine, where he tallied 30 points in 38 games during the 2024‑25 season and finished his NCAA career with 52 points in 123 appearances. He began his college tenure at UMass‑Amherst before transferring, a move that preceded his selection by the Avalanche in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Makar’s junior roots also include four seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the AJHL, where he accumulated 61 points over 104 games, a pedigree that helped shape his defensive awareness and offensive timing.
Sibling Synergy
The Makar brothers will now share the ice for the Avalanche, becoming the first pair of siblings in franchise history to appear in the same game for Colorado since the team’s relocation. Cale Makar, an established defenseman, joins his younger brother in a storyline that adds a personal narrative to the team’s on‑ice plans.
General manager Chris MacFarland highlighted the significance of the signing, noting that the organization values both the talent and the family legacy that Taylor brings to the locker room.