Cale Makar signs biggest contract in NHL history, extends with Avalanche

Colorado Avalanche superstar defenseman Cale Makar isn’t going anywhere.

The news that Avs fans have waited for all summer is finally here — Makar has signed an eight-year contract extension to stay in Colorado.

Makar signed for $20.4 million per year through 2034-35 season, according Elliotte Friedman — meaning he will make $9 million this coming season before his new contract kicks in for the following season. It was in a limited period where Makar could sign for eight years and it’s just shy of the maximum $20.8 million he could’ve signed for.

The 27-year-old Makar was entering the final year of his current deal, but GM Joe Sakic and Makar’s representatives got it across the finish line. Sakic said on Sunday he was “confident” an agreement would be reached before training camp and Super Joe pulled through only days later.

“Today is an exciting day for the Avalanche organization and our wonderful fans,” Sakic said in a statement. “Cale is a generational defenseman 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’s resume speaks for itself. He’s won two Norris Trophies, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup. The best defenseman on the planet also has a Calder Memorial Trophy to his name and has been on the NHL’s First All-Star Team four times, including each of the last two seasons.

In 470 career games, Cale Makar has already passed the 500-point mark, currently sitting at 507 total with 136 goals and 371 assists. He became the fourth fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 500 points, with only three Hall of Famers in Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey and Denis Potvin doing it in fewer games.

Makar’s also been nominated for the Norris Trophy six times in his first seven seasons, joining the legendary Orr as the only defenseman to pull that off.

Essentially, Makar could retire tomorrow and walk into the Hall of Fame. And luckily for Avalanche fans, his story is still being written with plenty of chapters to go.

“I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community,” Makar said in a statement. “I would like to thank the Kroenke family, Joe Sakic and the entire Avalanche organization for their commitment, trust and belief in me. I would also like to thank my wife and family for their constant support, as well as Scott, Brian and Steve Bartlett for their guidance and assistance.

“To the Avalanche fans, thank you for your continued support and for welcoming us to Colorado years ago,” he said. “Colorado has truly become a second home to us, and we are so grateful to be here. 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.”

Cale Makar will play in Colorado for at least the next nine years. The sky is the limit and he has a real shot to be the best defenseman in NHL history when it’s all said and done.

The Avalanche desperately missed Makar in the Western Conference Final against Vegas when he sat out the first two games with hip and shoulder injuries. Colorado might’ve won the Stanley Cup after cruising through the first two-rounds of the playoffs if Makar didn’t get beat up at the wrong time.

But that’s in the past and the challenge for Cale Makar and the Avalanche moving forward is adding more Stanley Cups to a trophy case that is already packed.

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