The Colorado Avalanche have locked defenseman Cale Makar in for the long term at a record-setting price.
The team announced on Friday, Aug. 28 that it signed the two-time Norris Trophy winner to an eight-year extension. His representative, Bartlett Hockey, posted that the deal is worth $163.2 million, with an annual cap hit of $20.4 million.
That will make Makar, 27, the highest-paid player in the NHL when the deal kicks in during the 2027-28 season. He's the league's first $20 million player and passes the $18.8 million average annual value in the extension signed by San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
The contract also blows away the $12.5 million average that former Avalanche teammate Bowen Byram, now with the Chicago Blackhawks, had
received as the highest-paid defenseman.
Here's a look at the contract of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar:
A historic day 👀 pic.twitter.com/trOBwCd8EH
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 28, 2026
Cale Makar contract details
He'll make $163.2 million in the extension, which breaks the $136 million deal signed by Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov. He also becomes the first NHL player to average $20 million.
Makar has one year left on his six-year, $54 million contract. The new contract will expire in 2034-35.
The #GoAvsGo Cale Makar 8 year $20.4M Cap Hit Extension
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 28, 2026
Yr 1-3 $4M Base & 16.8M Signing Bonus
Yr 4 $12.8M & $8M SB
Yr 5 $4M & $16.8M SB
Yr 6 $3M & $16.8M SB
Yr 7 $2.8M & $16.8M SB
Yr 8 $1M & $18.8M SB
No Move Clause
Rep'd by @BartlettHockey
The $20.4M Cap Hit is just short…
Cale Makar stats
Makar won the Norris Trophy as outstanding defenseman in 2022 and 2025 and has been a finalist the past six seasons. He was rookie of the year in 2019-20, plus won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Avalanche's 2022 Stanley Cup run.
He has hit the 20-goal mark four times, including 30 goals in 2024-25. Makar has 136 goals and 507 points in 470 regular-season games.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Avalanche D Cale Makar becomes NHL's first $20M player in massive deal
