Cale Makar

Cale Makar is a Canadian defenceman for the Colorado Avalanche and the highest-paid player in NHL history. Makar won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022 and has two Norris Trophies, from 2022 and 2025. In August 2026 Makar signed an eight-year extension worth $163.2M, an average of $20.4M a season.

Position	Defence
Team	Colorado Avalanche
Born	30 October 1998, Calgary, Alberta
Drafted	4th overall, 2017, by Colorado
Contract	$9M this season, then $20.4M AAV from 2027-28 to 2034-35
NHL career	470 GP, 136 G, 507 P
Honours	Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe 2022 · Norris 2022 and 2025 · Calder 2020

Ranked: Here are the NHL’s 20 best defensemen for 2026-27

There's plenty of offensive firepower on NHL blue lines

Ryan Whitney says Cale Makar is still underpaid

This will spark reactions from fans

Cale Makar’s record $163 million contract is actually an insult

NHL players deserve more

Nathan MacKinnon called out by fans for off-ice gesture

They are not happy with what he did!

Paul Bissonnette shares honest take on Cale Makar’s absence

Big words from Bissonnette!

Cale Makar shares heartfelt words about Nazem Kadri

So glad to see his old buddy again!

NHL’s hilarious way around Olympic copyright rules

The NHL does not have permission to show videos from the Olympic Games, much to fans’ frustration. But during Thursday’s tournament opener for Team Canada, the league found a hilarious workaround. Both Team Canada and ...