Joe Sakic makes encouraging and bold statement on Cale Makar’s future

Colorado Avalanche president and GM Joe Sakic met with the media on Thursday, along with team owner Josh Kroenke.

And Sakic and Kroenke made two big headlines.

The first is that head coach Jared Bednar will be back next season, although without a contract extension for now. Bednar is entering the final year of his deal.

The second will have Avalanche fans excited, as Joe Sakic made an encouraging and bold statement about the future of superstar defenseman Cale Makar.

He thinks Makar will play his entire career in Denver.

Breaking from Joe Sakic on Cale Makar.

“Cale’s going to finish his career here.”

Expects a contract extension to get done this summer. pic.twitter.com/I6Ri91qJr1

— Will Petersen (@PetersenWill) June 11, 2026

“Cale’s gonna finish his career here,” Joe Sakic said. “Already talked to his agent, we’re confident that something’s going to get worked out at some point. I mean, he’s got another year, but this summer we expect to have him signed.”

Makar is entering the last year of his current deal that will pay him $9 million for the 2026-27 season.

Obviously, the Avalanche and Sakic want to get this done in the coming months. With the very talented Mikko Rantanen that never happened two offseasons ago — he was eventually traded as the contract was running out. It doesn’t sound like it’ll get anywhere close to that point with Makar.

And the defenseman’s resume speaks for itself. He’s a Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe winner and a two-time Norris Trophy recipient. Makar has more than 500 career points (136 goals, 371 assists) and is only 27-years-old.

It’s a no-brainer to keep him with the Avalanche the rest of his career, something Joe Sakic sounds confident will happen.

Now what that contract looks like, in terms of dollars and length, will be interesting to see. Makar will certainly break the bank and could become the highest paid player in NHL history.

In a season that came up shockingly short, being swept by Vegas in the Western Conference Final, this is a massive piece of good news.

Next up is Makar putting pen to paper on a huge extension sometime soon.

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