Makar cashes in with Avs extension

*Photo from MassLive*

   One of the NHL's best young defensemen is now getting paid like it. The Colorado Avalanche and D Cale Makar have agreed to a 6 year, $54 million extension, with a $9 million AAV, according to his agent, Brian Bartlett. The deal with the pending RFA was confirmed by the Avalanche.

   Asked about his extension, Makar said "I'm definitely fortunate that we were able to get this done. Very happy and couldn't be more excited. I know this is a team that has the potential to win and to win now, and you don't want to sacrifice or get in the way of any of that. Just tried to do something that would work for both sides and I think we came to a deal that obviously works for both of us."

   Originally chosen with the 4th overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, Makar won Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in the 2019-2020 season, when he scored 50 total points in 57 games. He has 7 goals and 24 assists in 35 playoff games as well. He is one of 5 defensemen in the last 50 years to become a first team NHL all star before the age of 23. Erik Karlsson, Ray Bourque, Dion Phaneuf, and Dennis Potvin are the others.

   In his second NHL season last year, Makar put up 8 goals and sent out 36 assists, with a career best +17 plus/minus in an ATOI of 24:19, in 44 games last season. Makar has 20 goals and 74 assists in his first two seasons, with a +29 plus/minus in 101 games. He has just 24 minutes in penalties in his two seasons as well.

   Avalanche GM Joe Sakic said "A deal of this magnitude, both sides have to feel good about it moving forward. He's a superstar. He's one of the top defensemen in the League, if not the best. He'll be up for the Norris year in, year out. We're very fortunate that for the next six years we're going to have Cale here and hopefully helping us win the Stanley Cup."

   Extending Makar is just the beginning of the offseason for the Avalanche. Key contributors Gabe Landeskog and Philipp Grubauer are both set to become UFA's on July 28, and both are looking to get big pay raises, be it from the Avalanche, or someone else.