Major update on Cale Makar from NHL insider Elliotte Friedman

If you're an Avalanche fan, this has been the summer of holding your breath. Cale Makar, the franchise's generational blueliner, has been heading toward the final year of his current deal with no extension officially in place. Speculation has swirled for months about what the future holds for the two-time Norris Trophy winner. But on Thursday, the hockey world got a significant update that should have Colorado faithful breathing a whole lot easier.

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Avalanche and Makar are closing in on a contract extension, with an official announcement potentially coming very soon. This lines up with what GM and President of Hockey Operations Joe Sakic has been saying all summer, having previously stated that Makar "is going to finish his career here" and that he was "pretty confident" a deal would be done before the 2026-27 season begins.

The Clock Is Ticking on a Key Deadline

The timing of this news is particularly noteworthy. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement set to take effect on September 16, teams will only be able to extend their own players for a maximum of seven years. That means if Colorado wants to lock Makar into an eight-year deal, it needs to happen in the next few weeks.

Makar is currently in the final season of a six-year, $54 million contract he signed back in 2021, which carries a $9 million average annual value. His next deal is expected to blow that number out of the water. Fellow insider Jonny Lazarus has speculated that Makar could land something in the neighborhood of four years at $18.5 million AAV, though many expect the term to be longer. With the salary cap set at $104 million for 2026-27 and the maximum allowable AAV sitting at 20 percent of that figure, there's been real talk about Makar potentially becoming the highest-paid player in the entire league.

For context, Nathan MacKinnon currently leads the Avalanche with a $12.6 million cap hit, while Martin Necas' new deal carries an $11.5 million AAV. Given Makar's production and his standing around the league, it would be shocking if his new contract didn't surpass both of those figures by a comfortable margin.

Why Makar Is Worth Every Penny

It's hard to overstate just how dominant Makar has been since entering the NHL. The 27-year-old Calgary native is one of only 14 players in league history to win multiple Norris Trophies, capturing the award in 2022 and 2025. He has been named a finalist for the honor six consecutive years, making him one of the few defensemen ever to accomplish that in his first seven seasons.

This past season, Makar posted 20 goals and 59 assists for 79 points in 75 games while averaging more than 25 minutes of ice time per night. He finished third among all NHL defensemen in scoring and was a plus-40 on the year. He also recently hit the 500-point milestone for his career, all while helping Colorado win the Presidents' Trophy. On the international stage, he added a silver medal with Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in February.

NHL Network named him the best defenseman in the game for the fifth straight year, putting him ahead of players like Quinn Hughes. And let's not forget, this is a guy who already has a Stanley Cup ring from Colorado's 2022 championship run.

The Avalanche have built one of the most talented rosters in hockey, and Makar is the defensive cornerstone of the entire operation. Sakic and the front office have made it abundantly clear that keeping him in Denver is the organization's top long-term priority. With Friedman now reporting that a deal is close, it seems like the biggest remaining piece of offseason business for the Avs is about to be resolved. If things go as expected, Colorado fans could have their answer before September 16, and it should be exactly the one they've been hoping for.