Cale Makar signs record-breaking $163.2 million contract extension with Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche have finally completed their most important piece of offseason business, re-signing superstar defenseman Cale Makar to a record-breaking, eight-year, $163.2 million extension that should keep the Canadian in Denver for most of the rest of his career.

Makar has established himself as the National Hockey League’s premier defenseman, helping the Avs win the Stanley Cup in 2022 and being named a Norris Trophy finalist in each of the last six seasons. He won the award in 2022 and 2025.

Sportsnet hockey insider Elliotte Friedman first reported that the Avs were closing in on an extension with the defenseman on Thursday, while Evan Rawal of The Denver Gazette shared that Colorado agreed to terms with Makar on Wednesday night.

The 27-year-old will first play out the final season of a six-year, $54 million contract he signed back in July of 2021. The Calgary, Alberta native was set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

Makar has been on a remarkable run since chipping in 50 points in 57 games in his rookie campaign in 2019-20. Since then, he’s scored 124 goals and 457 points in 413 regular-season contests, adding a +156 rating while averaging over 25 minutes of ice time per game.

He’s also been a difference-maker in the postseason, amassing 25 goals and 84 points in 80 Stanley Cup Playoff contests. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after scoring 29 points in 20 games in the 2022 playoffs.

It’s been an incredible start to Makar’s career; he’s already 75th in all-time scoring among defensemen, and he is still just 27. If he continues at this pace — and plays 1,200 games — he will finish third in all-time scoring, behind only NHL legends Ray Bourque and Paul Coffey.

Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said earlier this week that he was confident Makar would sign an extension before the start of the 2026-27 season. That business is now complete, and Makar will be a focal point in Colorado’s quest to bring another championship to the Mile High City with its current superstar core.

After winning the Presidents’ Trophy in 2025-26, the Avalanche suffered a disappointing four-game sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2026 Western Conference Final.

With Makar locked up, the Avalanche will aim to bring a second Stanley Cup in six seasons to Denver in 2026-27.

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