Story Summary
The Colorado Avalanche signed star defenceman Cale Makar to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract that begins next season. The deal carries an average annual value of $20.4 million, the largest in NHL history. President of hockey operations Joe Sakic said the move reflects the club’s belief that you ‘can’t win without superstars,’ while Makar described the full term as providing clarity and stability as Colorado pursues more championships.
Key Facts
- Cale Makar signed an eight-year contract worth $163.2 million; the deal begins next season.
- The contract’s average annual value (AAV) is $20.4 million, which the source calls the richest contract in NHL history.
- Martin Necas signed an eight-year, $92 million contract ($11.5 million AAV) on Oct. 30, 2025.
- Nathan MacKinnon is entering the fourth season of an eight-year, $100.8 million contract ($12.6 million AAV) he signed on Sept. 20, 2022.
- The three contracts (Makar, MacKinnon, Necas) total $44.5 million in annual cost to Colorado.
- The three contracts total $44.5 million annually, equal to 39.2 percent of the projected $113.5 million NHL salary-cap upper limit for 2027-28, when Makar’s contract begins.
- Joe Sakic: “You can’t win without superstars.”
- Sakic noted the team needs depth and health for playoff success and referenced injuries affecting Colorado last year, particularly Makar’s upper-body injury.
- During the 2025-26 regular season, the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy with a 55-16-11 record.
- Makar sustained an upper-body injury in the second round against the Minnesota Wild and missed the first two games of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights.
- Colorado lost Games 1 and 2 of that Western Conference Final; Makar returned but was not at full strength and the Golden Knights swept the Avalanche.
IHM Discussion
Colorado has doubled down on its core by locking Makar into the highest-paid contract in NHL history. The deal ties Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner and the Avalanche’s playoff MVP in their most recent Cup run, to the franchise for eight more years. Sakic’s position is straightforward: with generational talents such as Makar and Nathan MacKinnon under long-term deals, Colorado can build a contender around them even with a large share of its payroll committed to a few stars.
Makar’s value is clear. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy after posting 29 points in 20 games during Colorado’s 2022 Cup run, while the Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy last season. His absence for the opening two games of the 2026 Western Conference Final also underlined how much Colorado relies on him. The contract is a major investment in a player the club sees as central to its chances of contending.
Why It Matters
The contract shapes Colorado’s roster building over the short and medium term. Makar, MacKinnon and Necas account for $44.5 million annually, or 39.2 percent of the projected $113.5 million cap upper limit for 2027-28. That concentration means Colorado will need to manage the rest of its roster carefully while retaining the elite core Sakic believes is necessary to contend.
IHM Market Outlook
Makar’s $20.4 million AAV establishes a new high-water mark for NHL contracts. For Colorado, the immediate cap picture is clear: Makar, MacKinnon and Necas combine for $44.5 million annually, representing 39.2 percent of the projected 2027-28 upper limit. The Avalanche have chosen certainty around their leading stars and will build the remainder of the roster around that commitment.
Fan Pulse
The signing reinforces Colorado’s commitment to its current championship core. Makar said the eight-year term offers clarity and stability, while Sakic stressed the importance of keeping elite players in place as the Avalanche pursue another Stanley Cup.
Mini Q&A
How long is Cale Makar’s new contract and what is its total value?
Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract that begins next season.
What is the average annual value (AAV) of the deal and how does it compare historically?
The deal carries a $20.4 million AAV, making it the richest contract in NHL history.
How does Makar’s contract affect Colorado’s payroll relative to other core players?
Together with MacKinnon’s $12.6 million AAV and Necas’s $11.5 million AAV, Makar’s deal brings the trio’s annual total to $44.5 million. That is 39.2 percent of the projected $113.5 million salary-cap upper limit for 2027-28.
Why did Colorado choose an eight-year term for Makar?
Makar said signing for the full eight years was important because it provides clarity and stability about the direction the team wants to go, and he believes the term should reflect how he feels about the team’s opportunity to win over that period.
What context did Colorado give for Makar’s new deal?
Colorado highlighted Makar’s Conn Smythe-winning performance in its 2022 Cup run and his importance to the team during last season’s playoffs. Sakic said the Avalanche need stars such as Makar and MacKinnon to win.
Coach Mark Comment
Makar’s ability to play 30 minutes a night gives Colorado unusual flexibility. When a top defenceman can handle the hardest minutes, a coach can organise the rest of the blue line around him. The challenge is ensuring the supporting group can absorb those responsibilities when he is unavailable.
What Comes Next
• Makar’s contract begins next season. • Colorado will enter 2027-28 with $44.5 million annually committed to Makar, MacKinnon and Necas.
IHM Final View
The Avalanche have committed record money to keep Makar at the centre of their championship plans.