[REVISION HISTORY]

Cale Makar signs historic $163.2M extension with Avalanche

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2026-08-29 07:08 UTC → 2026-09-05 05:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late August 2026, the Colorado Avalanche reached a historic agreement with superstar defenseman Cale Makar, resolving the contract uncertainty that had loomed throughout the offseason. On August 28, the Avalanche announced that Makar signed an eight-year contract extension worth $163.2 million. The deal, which begins in the 2027-28 season and runs through 2034-35, carries an average annual value (AAV) of $20.4 million. This makes Makar the first player in NHL history to surpass the $20 million annual threshold, surpassing the previous record of $18.8 million set by Macklin Celebrini. The extension also includes a full no-move clause and is heavily structured with signing bonuses. This outcome follows weeks of speculation regarding Makar’s future, including potential trade scenarios involving the Toronto Maple Leafs and concerns over a September 15 deadline related to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. By securing the eight-year deal before the deadline, the Avalanche successfully utilized the rules in place prior to the new CBA, which would have limited the maximum extension term to seven years. Joe Sakic, the Avalanche president of hockey operations, described Makar as a “generational defenseman” and expressed excitement about securing his services for the next decade. The agreement secures the two-time Norris Trophy winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient through his prime years, fulfilling Sakic’s earlier stated goal of ensuring Makar plays his entire career in Colorado. ~~The massive~~ By early September, the deal ~~is expected~~ began shifting the league's financial landscape. Makar’s contract has increased pressure on other franchises to ~~influence future~~ secure extensions for elite talent, specifically intensifying scrutiny on the Minnesota Wild regarding negotiations with defenseman Quinn Hughes, as expectations for ~~other high-profile players and sets~~ Hughes' potential extension are expected to rise following Makar setting a new ~~standard~~ high-water mark for ~~the salary cap era.~~ defensive salaries.

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