Colorado Avalanche Eye Record-Setting Extension for Cale Makar as Kaprizov’s $17M Deal Sets New Benchmark
Cale Makar is entering the final year of his $54 million deal with the Colorado Avalanche, and his camp is reportedly using Kirill Kaprizov's $17 million AAV as a benchmark for a new extension. Makar posted 79 points in 75 games in 2025-26 and remains Colorado's top offensive defenseman.
The Colorado Avalanche are preparing for what could become the richest contract extension for a defenseman in NHL history, with star blueliner Cale Makar entering the final year of his current deal. According to insider Pierre LeBrun, Makar’s camp is using Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million average annual value with the Minnesota Wild as the opening reference point for negotiations.
Makar is playing out the last season of a six-year, $54 million contract signed in 2021, carrying a $9 million cap hit through 2026-27. He just closed out 2025-26 with 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games, reinforcing his status as one of the league’s most dynamic offensive defensemen. Colorado wants to keep him in Denver, but the front office also has to balance any new deal against the rest of its roster’s cap needs.
Why Kaprizov’s Contract Matters to Makar’s Camp
Kirill Kaprizov’s extension with the Minnesota Wild reset the market at the top of the NHL pay scale, and it’s now giving Makar’s representatives a concrete number to build their case around. As LeBrun’s report indicates, having a direct comparison point strengthens Makar’s negotiating position, since his camp can reference the Kaprizov figure throughout talks with Colorado.
What Cale Makar Brings to the Colorado Avalanche
A former Norris Trophy winner, Makar remains Colorado’s most dangerous puck-mover from the blue line. His 2025-26 season — 20 goals, 59 assists and 79 points across 75 games — underscored why the Avalanche consider him a foundational piece of their roster. Selected fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, the Calgary-born defenseman has developed into one of the league’s premier two-way talents, combining elite skating with high-end offensive instincts.
How a Record Deal Could Reshape the Defenseman Market
A contract approaching Kaprizov’s $17 million benchmark wouldn’t just affect Colorado’s books — it could ripple across the league. Analysts note that a landmark Makar extension may directly influence upcoming negotiations for other elite defensemen, including Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes. How aggressively Colorado moves on this deal is expected to signal just how far the top end of the defenseman market is prepared to go.
Colorado’s Balancing Act: Retention vs. Cap Flexibility
The Avalanche face a delicate calculation. Locking up Makar at a record-setting number secures their top defenseman for years to come, but it also limits the flexibility Colorado has to build out the rest of its roster. How the front office navigates that trade-off will be one of the defining storylines of the team’s offseason.
Key Takeaways
- Cale Makar is in the final year of a six-year, $54 million contract with a $9 million cap hit.
- Insider Pierre LeBrun reports Makar’s camp is referencing Kirill Kaprizov’s $17 million AAV with the Minnesota Wild as a starting benchmark.
- Makar posted 20 goals, 59 assists, and 79 points in 75 games during the 2025-26 season.
- A record-setting extension could reshape the NHL’s defenseman salary market.
- The deal’s structure may influence future negotiations for other top blueliners, including Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks.
- Colorado must balance retaining Makar with maintaining cap flexibility for the rest of its roster.
