Cale Makar’s $20.4 Million Contract Is Bigger Than a Record
Colorado Avalanche alternate captain Cale Makar checks Seattle Kraken forward Jared McCann into the boards during a matchup against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena on April 24, 2023. Photo by Jenn G.
Written by Gina Anton
The Colorado Avalanche made Cale Makar the highest-paid player in NHL history Friday, signing their star defenseman to an eight-year, $163.2 million extension with a $20.4 million average annual value. Makar is now the first player in League history to surpass a $20 million AAV, a number that reflects both his accomplishments and the expectations that come with them.
At 27, Makar already has two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup, establishing himself as one of the most impactful players in hockey from the blue line. While the record number will dominate the headlines, its impact goes far beyond Makar’s bank account.
“Today is an exciting day for the Avalanche organization and our wonderful fans,” Avalanche president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic said. “Cale is a generational defenceman and his accomplishments speak for themselves. He is obviously a tremendous competitor and player but even more so a great person, teammate and ambassador for the Avalanche and the Rocky Mountain region. We are beyond thrilled to get this deal done and have Cale in an Avalanche sweater for the next decade."
Makar Has Set a New Standard for Himself
Makar has always carried expectations, but $20.4 million a season changes the conversation. He does not suddenly need to become a better player, Colorado is paying him because he is already one of the best in the world. But with the largest contract in League history, every performance will inevitably be measured against that number.
The Avalanche are betting that Makar’s prime will be worth it. With the extension keeping him in Colorado through 2034-35, the organization is making him the centerpiece of its blue line and one of the central faces of the franchise for the next decade. For Makar, the challenge is not proving he deserved the contract. It is making sure the next eight years look worthy of it.
“I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community,” Makar said. “I look forward to getting back on the ice with my teammates and continuing to work toward our goal of bringing the Stanley Cup back to the Mile High City.”
His Teammates Will Feel the Difference
The contract also changes the equation for everyone around him. Colorado now has an even larger portion of its salary cap tied to its biggest stars, meaning roster construction will become increasingly important. The Avalanche will need affordable depth, strong contributions from younger players and difficult decisions when contracts come up around their core.
That could mean some teammates have to take less to stay in Colorado, while younger players could get opportunities to step into bigger roles. Makar’s contract, in other words, is not just about Makar, it affects how the Avalanche build the team around him. The gamble is that Makar is valuable enough to justify the money, but the roster still has to be deep enough for him to turn that value into wins.
Avalanche Fans Get Certainty
For Colorado fans, the biggest part of the deal may be the simplest: Makar is staying. He has already become one of the defining players of the Avalanche’s current era, helping deliver the 2022 Stanley Cup and establishing himself as one of the League’s premier defensemen.
Now, fans know they will get to watch the next chapter in Colorado. There will be pressure and nights when the contract becomes part of the conversation after a loss, but there will also be eight more years of watching Makar create the kind of moments that made Colorado willing to make this commitment in the first place.
The Avalanche have chosen their cornerstone. Now they have to build around him.
The $20.4 million price tag may have changed the salary bar for NHL defensemen, but the bigger story is what Colorado does with everything around it. If the Avalanche can continue surrounding Makar with enough talent to compete for championships, the record contract could eventually look less like a risk and more like the cost of keeping a franchise-defining player in Colorado.
