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On Friday, Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche settled on an eight-year contract extension valued at $163.2 million USD, establishing him as the highest-earning player in the history of the league.
The terms of the agreement were verified by his representation, Bartlett Hockey.
This extension for Makar stands as the most lucrative contract ever signed in the NHL, overtaking the $136 million, eight-year deal secured by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov last September. The new agreement ties Makar to the team through the 2034-35 campaign.
Starting in the 2027-28 season, the Calgary-born blue-liner’s contract carries an average annual value of $20.4 million, exceeding the landmark deal of San Jose Sharks standout Macklin Celebrini, who agreed to a five-year, $94 million package with an $18.8 million AAV in late July.
This record-breaking contract could set the stage for even larger figures, particularly with superstars Connor McDavid of Edmonton and Auston Matthews of Toronto becoming eligible for new deals next summer.
“I am absolutely thrilled to remain here with the Avalanche in the wonderful city of Denver,” remarked Makar in a social media video shared by the franchise, describing it as a monumental day.
“Looking forward to what will hopefully be another spectacular nine seasons.”
The 27-year-old star recently completed a campaign recording 20 goals and 59 assists. He was the runner-up to Columbus’s Zach Werenski in the voting for the Norris Trophy, which honors the league’s premiere defenseman—a trophy Makar has already claimed twice in his career.
Makar carried a salary cap hit of $9 million last season under a six-year, $54 million deal inked in 2021. This fresh contract establishes a new financial benchmark for other elite defensemen, such as Minnesota’s Quinn Hughes and Werenski.
Anticipated to Participate in Training Camp
Locking down Makar for the long haul was a top objective during the off-season for general manager and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic, who previously stated his belief that Makar would “retire as a member” of the Colorado franchise. The team originally selected Makar with the fourth pick in the 2017 draft from the University of Massachusetts.
Estimates place the salary cap at $113.5 million for the 2027-28 season when Makar’s extension takes effect. He will occupy approximately 18 percent of the team’s total cap space on a roster built for championship contention. Meanwhile, winger Artturi Lehkonen, center Nicolas Roy, and goalie Scott Wedgewood are all scheduled to become free agents following the current campaign.
Makar was playing through injuries prior to the Western Conference final, in which the top-seeded Avalanche were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights. He missed the opening two matches due to an upper-body injury but managed to return for the subsequent two games. Sakic noted not long ago that Makar is on track to participate in the upcoming training camp.
It has proven to be an active summer for Sakic, who resumed general manager duties following Chris MacFarland’s departure to run the front office in Nashville. One of the key trades managed by Sakic involved sending Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets in exchange for draft selections, a move aimed at clearing financial flexibility to finalize Makar’s historic extension.
“Cale is a unique talent on the blue line, and his achievements are clear for all to see,” Sakic expressed in an official release. “While he is an exceptional player and competitor, he is an even finer individual, teammate, and representative of the Avalanche organization and the Rocky Mountain community. We couldn’t be happier to finalize this agreement and keep Cale in Colorado colors for another ten years.”
Makar has recorded four separate seasons with at least 20 goals, joining an elite group of only 12 defensemen in NHL history to hit that mark. Additionally, he reached his 500th career point on March 28 during his 467th appearance, making him the fourth-fastest blueliner in history to hit the milestone, trailing only Hall of Fame legends Bobby Orr (396 games), Paul Coffey (422), and Denis Potvin (465).
The cornerstone group of Makar, Nathan MacKinnon, and team captain Gabriel Landeskog guided Colorado to the Stanley Cup championship in 2022. During that title run, Makar racked up eight goals and 29 points, earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason’s most valuable player.
Taylor Makar, Cale’s younger brother, recently agreed to a two-year deal with Colorado extending through the 2027-28 season. Taylor played his first NHL game on November 1 in San Jose, marking the first time a pair of brothers played together in an Avalanche game. The Stastny siblings—Anton, Peter, and Marian—previously did so during the franchise’s era as the Quebec Nordiques.
“This state has genuinely transformed into a second home for us, and we feel incredibly blessed to be here,” Cale Makar expressed. “I am eager to skate again with my teammates and keep pushing toward our ultimate objective of returning the Stanley Cup to Denver.”
