Star defenseman Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension, according to an announcement from his agency on a Friday reported by Yahoo. The landmark agreement carries an average annual value (AAV) of $20.4 million, making Makar the first player in NHL history to sign a deal exceeding $20 million in annual salary.
Cale Makar and Colorado Avalanche Agree to Record 8-Year Extension
The deal, which begins next season, surpasses the five-year, $94 million contract ($18.8 million AAV) signed by Macklin Celebrini with the San Jose Sharks on July 29, according to NHL.com. Avalanche president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic expressed enthusiasm over securing the franchise cornerstone, stating that Makar is a generational defenseman whose accomplishments speak for themselves.
I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community,
Makar said, as noted by NHL.com. He added that he looks forward to returning to the ice with his teammates to pursue another Stanley Cup for the Mile High City.
Strategic Timing Under Collective Bargaining Rules
Completing the agreement now allowed Makar and the Avalanche to lock in a maximum eight-year term. Once the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement goes into effect on September 15, maximum contract lengths will be capped at seven years, Yahoo reported. Makar had been entering the final year of a six-year, $54 million extension signed in July 2021 and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.
Sakic noted that while Makar had been eligible to sign a new deal since July 1, he remained confident an agreement would materialize before the start of the season next month. The extension ensures the 27-year-old Calgary native will remain in Colorado through the end of his prime, keeping him in an Avalanche sweater until he is 36 years old.
Historical Achievements and Franchise Records
Selected by the Avalanche with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Makar has established himself as one of the most decorated players in league history over his seven seasons with the organization. His list of accolades includes winning the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, claiming the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman twice (2022, 2025), and being named to the NHL First All-Star Team four times.
In 2022, Makar helped capture the Stanley Cup for Colorado and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the postseason MVP after recording 29 points in 20 games. He is one of only two players—with Hall of Famer Bobby Orr being the other—to be named a finalist for the Norris Trophy at least six times in his first seven NHL seasons. Furthermore, he is part of an elite group of only 14 players to win multiple Norris Trophies.
Makar is already the franchise all-time leader among Colorado and Quebec Nordiques defensemen in goals (136), assists (371), and points (507) across 470 games. Last season, he reached his 500th career point in his 467th game, requiring the fourth-fewest games by a defenseman to hit the milestone in NHL history, trailing only Orr, Paul Coffey, and Denis Potvin.
International Success and Future Outlook
Beyond his NHL dominance, Makar has achieved significant success on the international stage. He helped Team Canada win gold at the 2018 World Junior Championship and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, while also capturing a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The New York Times reported that Makar’s new deal eclipses Kirill Kaprizov’s $136 million contract as the largest in NHL history. Colorado is set to open its upcoming season against the Los Angeles Kings at Ball Arena on September 30.
Related reading
