Cale Makar

Cale Makar
Makar with the Colorado Avalanche on January 6, 2020
Born (1998-10-30) October 30, 1998 (age 27)
Calgary, Alberta
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 187 lb (85 kg; 13 st 5 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Right
NHL team Colorado Avalanche
National team  Canada
NHL draft 4th overall, 2017
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2019–present

Cale Douglas Makar (born October 30, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He currently plays for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL) and serves as an alternate captain.

Makar has been very successful throughout his NHL career. He is a one-time Stanley Cup champion, the Calder Memorial Trophy winner in 2020, one-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and two-time James Norris Memorial Trophy winner. Makar is a three-time All-Star, being named one in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He was the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 24. Internationally, Makar plays for Canada and won a silver medal in 2026.

Career

Before playing in the NHL, Makar played three seasons with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and three years with the UMass Minutemen of Hockey East. He was very successful during his time with his teams.

With the Bandits, Makar won Rookie of the Year, CJHL Rookie of the Year, RBC CJHL Player of the Year, Most Outstanding Defenceman, Most Valuable Player, Playoff MVP, RBC Top Scorer, two-time RBC Top Defenceman, and a two-time RBC Roland Mercier Trophy for being the Centennial Cup tournament's Most Valuable Player. He was also named to the South All-Rookie Team and South All-Star Team. With the Minutemen, he won the Hobey Baker Award. He was also named the Hockey East Scoring Champion, CHN Player of the Year, the unanimous Hockey East Player of the Year, New England Player of the Year, New England Rookie of the Year, New England Best Defenceman, USCHO Player of the Year, NCAA Northeast Regional MVP, and AHCA First Team All-American.

He was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team, Hockey East First All-Star Team, Hockey East Third All-Star Team, All-CHN First Team, and New England All-Star.

He was drafted 4th overall by the Colorado Avalanche of the 2017 NHL entry draft. On April 14, 2019, Makar signed an three-year entry-level contract to join the Avalanche.

During game 3 of the Western conference first round on April 15, 2019, Makar made his NHL debut in a 5–2 win against the Vancouver Canucks. During the first period, he scored his first NHL goal against Mike Smith. He finished his rookie season scoring 12 goals and recording 38 assists in 57 regular season games. He also scored 4 goals and recorded 11 assists in 15 regular season games. He was awarded the Calder Memorial Trophy for his effort.

On July 24, 2021, Makar signed a six-year, $54 million contract to stay with the Avalanche. He was awarded the James Norris Memorial Trophy for being the best defenceman of the season. He helped the Avalanche during the playoffs. They defeated the Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Edmonton Oilers. They went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning four games to two in the Final to win the Stanley Cup. Over the playoffs, he scored 8 goals and recorded 21 assists in 20 games. Makar was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy for his effort. On March 6, 2024, he recorded his first NHL hat-trick in a 7–2 win against the Detroit Red Wings. On August 28, 2026, Makar signed a eight-year, $163.2 million contract to stay with the Avalanche. The contract made him the highest paid player in the league.

Personal life

Makar's younger brother Taylor is also a professional hockey player.

References

  1. ↑ "Makar Receives Dick White Trophy as AJHL Rookie of the Year". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Bandits Defenceman Cale Makar Wins CJHL Rookie of the Year". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Individual honours doled out at 2017 RBC Cup". Canada Hockey. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  4. ↑ "AJHL Announces All-League and All-Rookie Teams". Alberta Junior Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Cale Makar of UMass named 2019 winner of Hobey Baker Award". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  6. ↑ "2018–2019 Hockey East Overall Category Leaders". Hockey East. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Makar Named CHN Player of the Year". College Hockey News. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Cale Makar tabbed as Hockey East's best player". Hockey East. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  9. ↑ "UMass Amherst hockey head coach Greg Carvel named 2019 Spencer Penrose Award Winner". University of Massachusetts Amherst. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  10. ↑ "Makar Tabbed Co-Rookie Of The Year By New England Hockey Writers Association". UMass Minutemen. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  11. ↑ "Hobey Baker winner Makar chosen USCHO Player of the Year in helping UMass to national championship game". USCHO.com. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  12. ↑ "UMass' Makar Tabbed Hobey Hat Trick Finalist". UMass Minutemen. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  13. ↑ "2018–19 All-Americans – American Hockey Coaches Association". American Hockey Coaches Association. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  14. ↑ "How Cale Makar turned around the UMass hockey team". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  15. ↑ "Hockey East names 2018–19 All-Star Teams". Hockey East. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Hockey East Names 2018-19 All-Star Teams". Hockey East. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Makar Named CHN Player of the Year". College Hockey News. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  18. ↑ "CJHL's Cale Makar goes fourth overall in draft". Canadian Junior Hockey League. Archived from the original on November 13, 2017. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Avalanche Signs Cale Makar to Entry-Level Contract". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  20. ↑ "Makar shines in NHL debut, Avs beat Flames 6-2 for 2-1 lead". ESPN. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Cale Makar Wins Calder Trophy". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Cale Makar Signs Six-Year Contract". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Cale Makar Wins James Norris Memorial Trophy". Colorado Avalanche. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Avalanche edge Lightning in Game 6, win Cup for first time since 2001". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Makar wins Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP for Avalanche". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Makar's 1st hat trick helps Avalanche ease past Red Wings". National Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  27. ↑ "CHL to NHL: former Rebels captain Uchacz debuts with Golden Knights". Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved September 30, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Avalanche's Makar Brothers Finally Play Together at NHL Level". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 30, 2026.

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