Aarif Deen
As expected, the Colorado Avalanche are prioritizing a Cale Makar contract extension this summer, a year before he is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent.
“Cale is going to finish his career here,” Avalanche President of Hockey Operations and general manager Joe Sakic said on Thursday.
The 27-year-old superstar defenseman is entering the final season of his six-year contract, making $9 million against the salary cap.
“We’re already talking to his agent, so we’re confident that something’s going to get worked out at some point,” Sakic said. “I mean, he’s got another year, but this summer we expect to have him signed.”
Makar has every reason to double his current salary and become the highest-paid player in the league. Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov will make $17 million in 2025-26, while Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl ($14 million) is slated to be the second-highest-paid player.
Among blueliners, nobody makes more than the $11.5 million cap hit of Pittsburgh’s veteran Erik Karlsson. In terms of actual dollars, Dallas Stars blueliner Thomas Harley is slated to make $13 million. Makar is likely going to blow past both of these in 2027-28.
KSE Vice Chairman Josh Kroenke made it clear that money wouldn’t be an issue as long as the core of this team remains in contention for a Stanley Cup.
“If you have a core of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, led by Gabe Landeskog, and then the depth that we have, I think you better be pushing it, trying to go for Cups,” Kroenke said. “I think going for Cups means you are spending as much as you can when you can, and using your resources as smartly as possible as well.”
The Avalanche made MacKinnon the highest-paid player in the NHL at the time he signed his deal in September 2022.