Coach Jared Bednar throws Cale Makar under the bus

It remains to be seen if Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar will suit up for Game 4 of the Western Conference Final this evening, but one thing we know for sure is that it's do or die for the Avs.

Down 3-0 to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Avs cannot afford another mis-step in this series, a series that the Avs have stumbled through since Game 1. Makar missed Games 1 and 2 with an undisclosed injury, but suited up for Game 3, a game that saw the Avs squander a three goal lead.

Avs coach Jared Bednar hasn't made a determination on Makar's status for Game 4 just yet, but his comments earlier in the series haven't done much to take the pressure off his player.

When asked about Makar’s status, Bednar stated, “It’s gonna be Cale’s decision on if he’s coming back. He’s doing all the work. I don’t make that decision for him.”

Based on that statement, the training staff aren’t holding Makar back from playing, but it is clear that he doesn’t feel ready enough to go. Sometimes, a player may be able to play, but the impact they would be able to make is a fraction of them while healthy, and could be a detriment to the team.

A coach’s job is to keep the outside noise and pressure off the players in cases like this. Bednar didn’t do that.

Since stepping into the league in 2019, Makar has completely shattered expectations for what a modern defenseman can be. The skating? Ridiculous. The edge work? Unreal. The offensive instincts? Pure chaos for opposing goalies.

And the craziest part? He made history almost immediately.

Makar scored in his NHL debut during the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs, instantly announcing himself to the hockey world. One season later, he captured the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie, then quickly evolved into the engine of Colorado’s offense from the back end. By 2022, he wasn’t just elite — he was unstoppable. Makar led the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup, won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and grabbed the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman all in the same season.

Since then, the accolades have kept piling up. Multiple Norris Trophy wins, 90-point seasons, highlight-reel rushes every night, and endless comparisons to legends like Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom.

At this point, Makar isn’t just the best defenseman in hockey — he’s building a Hall of Fame résumé at warp speed.