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The Colorado Avalanche have locked defenseman Cale Makar in for the long term at a record-setting price.
The team announced on Friday, Aug. 28 that it signed the two-time Norris Trophy winner to an eight-year extension. His representative, Bartlett Hockey, posted that the deal is worth $163.2 million, with an annual cap hit of $20.4 million.
That will make Makar, 27, the highest-paid player in the NHL when the deal kicks in during the 2027-28 season. He’s the league’s first $20 million player and passes the $18.8 million average annual value in the extension signed by San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
The contract also blows away the $12.5 million average that former Avalanche teammate Bowen Byram, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, had received as the highest-paid defenseman.
Here’s a look at the contract of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar:
Cale Makar contract details
Makar will make $163.2 million in the extension, which breaks the $136 million deal signed by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. Makar also becomes the first NHL player to average $20 million.
Makar has one year left on his six-year, $54 million contract. The new contract will run through 2034-35.
Cale Makar stats
Makar won the Norris Trophy as outstanding defenseman in 2022 and 2025 and has been a finalist the past six seasons. He was rookie of the year in 2019-20, plus won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run.
He has hit the 20-goal mark four times, including 30 goals in 2024-25. Makar has 136 goals and 507 points in 470 regular-season games.