Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic has publicly voiced confidence that star defenseman Cale Makar will ink a contract extension before the upcoming NHL season begins.
His optimism is shared by veteran insider Elliotte Friedman, who has highlighted Makar’s impending deal as a focal point of the team’s offseason agenda.
The conversation gains context from a similar scenario four years ago, when center Nathan MacKinnon secured an eight‑year agreement ahead of unrestricted free agency, a deal that Friedman recalls as a benchmark for Makar’s negotiations.
Makar, who will turn 28 at the end of October, is expected to seek a shorter commitment, likely five or six years, rather than the eight‑year term that the new collective bargaining agreement now limits.
Under the current CBA, a player can command up to $20.8 million per season, a figure that could push Makar’s average annual value above the $18.8 million AAV recorded by Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.
Negotiation Venue and Timing
Friedman speculates that the agreement could be announced at the Avalanche’s annual golf tournament, mirroring the setting where MacKinnon’s extension was first revealed at the start of training camp.
Both the front office and Makar’s camp are said to be zeroing in on contract length and cap implications, with the player’s willingness to forgo the maximum salary adding another layer of strategy to the talks.
If an agreement materializes before the season, the Avalanche would lock in a key offensive defenseman at a time when the franchise is looking to build around its core talent and maintain competitiveness in the Western Conference.