The Colorado Avalanche are signing star defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year extension, the team announced Friday.
A historic day 👀 pic.twitter.com/trOBwCd8EH
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 28, 2026
The deal carries an average annual value of $20.4 million, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports. The maximum salary under the NHL's current collective bargaining agreement and cap is $20.8 million.
Makar's cap hit is the highest in NHL history, surpassing Macklin Celebrini, who signed an extension with an average annual value of $18.8 million in July. It also eclipses Erik Karlsson's $11.5-million AAV, which stood as the record for a defenseman.
Additionally, it's the largest contract in league history, overtaking Kirill Kaprizov's eight-year, $136-million deal signed with the Minnesota Wild last September.
Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson will technically remain the highest-paid player for the upcoming 2026-27 season after signing a five-year, $90-million offer sheet. Makar's extension kicks in for the 2027-28 campaign.
Makar was set to become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. He's coming off a six-year pact - signed in 2021 - that had a $9-million cap hit.
"Today is an exciting day for the Avalanche organization and our wonderful fans," president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic said in a statement. "Cale is a generational defenseman, and his accomplishments speak for themselves. He is obviously a tremendous competitor and player but even more so a great person, teammate and ambassador for the Avalanche and the Rocky Mountain region. We are beyond thrilled to get this deal done and have Cale in an Avalanche sweater for the next decade."
The six-time All-Star had until Sept. 15 to be eligible to sign an eight-year deal. After that deadline, league rules limit new contracts to a maximum of seven years.
"I am so excited and humbled to continue to wear the Avalanche sweater and represent this incredible organization and community," Makar said.
The 27-year-old tallied 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games last season. Since entering the league in 2019, Makar is the highest-scoring defenseman with 136 goals and 507 points in 470 contests.
Makar won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2022 and 2025, and he claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2022 when the Avalanche won the Stanley Cup. Makar also took the Calder Trophy in 2020 as the NHL's top rookie.
