When the Colorado Avalanche locked up Cale Makar to a six-year, $54 million deal back in 2021, it was hailed as a masterstroke. At a $9 million average annual value (AAV), the Avs secured the best defenseman on the planet for his prime years. But as we look ahead to the summer of 2026, when Makar is first eligible to sign an extension, that deal is starting to look like the best bargain in professional hockey. The real question isn’t if Makar will get a massive raise, but just how high that number will climb.
Is a $17 Million AAV the New Reality for NHL Superstars?
Let’s be blunt: the idea of Cale Makar earning between $17 and $18 million annually, as suggested by former NHL goalie Carter Hutton, isn’t just possible; it’s probable. The NHL’s financial landscape is shifting dramatically. After years of a flat salary cap, the ceiling is rising, and player salaries are set to explode along with it. We’ve already seen a glimpse of this with Kirill Kaprizov’s recent eight-year, $17 million AAV contract with the Wild. While Kaprizov is an elite forward, Cale Makar is in a class of his own on the blue line—a perennial Norris Trophy candidate and the engine that drives the entire Colorado Avalanche franchise.
As an NHL analyst who has followed this league for years, I can tell you that market dynamics are everything. By the time Makar is ready to sign, Connor McDavid will have likely set a new ceiling, potentially north of $18 million per year. Makar, as the undisputed top defenseman, will command a salary that reflects his status. He’s not just an offensive dynamo; he’s a player who single-handedly tilts the ice every time he steps on it. The Avalanche know what they have, and they know the price of keeping a generational talent is steep. This won’t be a negotiation; it will be a coronation of his value to the franchise and the league. The only real debate is whether the final number starts with a ’17’ or an ’18’.
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