Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have reached a landmark agreement, with Makar signing an eight-year contract extension worth $163.2 million US, establishing him as the highest-paid player in NHL history. Bartlett Hockey, Makar’s agency, confirmed the terms of the deal, which will make him the highest-paid player in NHL history, surpassing the previous record set by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild with an eight-year, $136 million extension last September. The new deal for Makar will run through the 2034-35 season and carries an annual average value (AAV) of $20.4 million starting from the 2027-28 season, exceeding the recent five-year, $94 million extension signed by San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini, which has an AAV of $18.8 million.
In a video shared by the team on social media, Makar expressed his excitement about continuing his journey with the Avalanche in Denver, calling it a historic day and looking forward to another nine incredible years. The 27-year-old defenseman’s exceptional performance in the previous season included 20 goals and 59 assists, earning him second place in the Norris Trophy voting behind Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner, had a cap hit of $9 million last season under his previous six-year, $54 million contract signed in 2021. This new deal sets a benchmark for other top defensemen like Quinn Hughes and Zach Werenski.
The Avalanche’s president of hockey operations and general manager, Joe Sakic, made securing Makar’s long-term commitment a top priority during the off-season, emphasizing that Makar would continue his career in Colorado. Makar, who was selected fourth overall in the 2017 draft from the University of Massachusetts, is expected to be fully ready for training camp after sustaining an upper-body injury during the Western Conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights. The busy off-season for Sakic also included organizational changes and strategic deals to accommodate Makar’s extension, such as trading Valeri Nichushkin to the Blue Jackets for draft picks.
Makar, known for his offensive prowess, has achieved remarkable milestones in his career, including four 20-goal seasons and reaching his 500th NHL point in just 467 games, making him the fourth-fastest defenseman to accomplish this feat in league history. Alongside teammates Nathan MacKinnon and Gabriel Landeskog, Makar played a pivotal role in Colorado’s Stanley Cup victory in 2022, contributing eight goals and 29 points during the championship run and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs’ MVP. Additionally, Makar’s younger brother, Taylor, has signed a two-year contract with the Avalanche, extending through the 2027-28 season.