What Makes Cale Makar's Avalanche Contract Truly Historic
With an an eight-year contract extension through the 2034-35 season featuring a $20.4 million Average Annual Value (AAV) and worth a total of $163.2 million — Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche is now the highest-paid player in NHL history.
The announcement of his extension came on Aug. 28, with Makar having had only one year remaining on the former six-year deal he signed in July of 2021.
Colorado's front office made Makar's extension a top priority as the defenseman has recorded 507 career points across 470 regular-season games so far. Originally selected at No. 4 overall by the Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Draft, Makar, 27, now has the entire prime of his career ahead of him, with a deal behind him that will undoubtedly provide him with all the resources he needs to succeed.
Highest-Paid players in the NHL (after contract extensions kick in)
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) August 28, 2026
Cale Makar, $20.4M AAV
🦈 Macklin Celebrini, $18.8M AAV
🦆 Leo Carlsson, $18M AAV
🌲 Kirill Kaprizov, $17M AAV
🔴 Connor Bedard, $15M AAV pic.twitter.com/fDMxH3Cky8
In addition, Makar is coming off a season in which he posted 79 points across 20 goals and 59 assists for the Avalanche.
The Stanley Cup champion and two-time Norris Trophy winner has also said he is grateful to continue his career in Colorado with the Avs — with this deal providing him the opportunity to conclude his career in Colorado.
“I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community,” said Makar per the NHL's media release on the latest inking.
"To the Avalanche fans, thank you for your continued support and for welcoming us to Colorado years ago. 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.”
What Cale Makar's Deal Means for the NHL
Now, Makar's historic contract certainly has League ramifications.
In total dollars, the only contract in NHL history that even comes slightly close to Makar is Kirill Kaprizov who signed an eight-year, $136 million contract with the Minnesota Wild.
In addition, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is the next-highest-paid player in the NHL — with an $18.8 million AAV for San Jose behind Makar's $20.4 million AAV.
Back to Makar, he is now the NHL's first player to be making $20 million a year or more, which is also just shy of the League maximum of $20.8 million.
This could start a ripple effect.
Quinn Hughes (Wild), Matthew Schaefer (Islanders), Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets), and other blueliners across the NHL could very well benefit eventually from what precedent Makar's latest inking represents for the NHL.
As the NHL salary cap rises — potentially climbing to north of $120 million in two seasons and $130 million in three — AAVs on contracts across the League could continue to soar higher than $20 million.
Hughes in particular is in the final season of a six-year contract with a $7.85 million AAV, and he has been eligible to sign a new contract since July 1. Makar's signing could indicate to Hughes's agent, Pat Brisson, what a matching or exceeding target number could look like with Minnesota; or what offer the New Jersey Devils would have to potentially put on the table to unite Hughes with his younger brothers — both of whom (Jack, Luke) are on the Devils' roster.
The NHL salary cap is $104 million this season, up 8.9 percent from $95.5 million last season. Per NHL.com, it is projected to rise to $113.5 million next season, which would be a 9.1 percent increase.
Makar's contract could very well be the first domino falling in terms of future contracts for defensemen across the league — but for Quinn in particular, it provides a target for what he could ask for if he hits the open market or if Brisson reaches a deal for the Team USA gold medalist with the Wild.
Jennifer Streeter graduated with a B.A. in journalism from Texas A&M and received her Master of Science from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism. At both schools, she focused on an emphasis of sports reporting. A former athlete herself, "Jenny" was a varsity soccer player and comes from a family who participated in NCAA athletics. She has covered hockey since 2023 and is credentialed for the Seattle Kraken, New Jersey Devils and PWHL in addition to having covered the 2026 Frozen Four.