- Joe Sakic says Cale Makar is “going to finish his career here” in Colorado
- The new Avalanche GM has made a Makar extension his top offseason priority
- Read below for Sakic’s full comments and the video from Thursday’s presser
Cale Makar isn’t going anywhere.
New Avalanche president of hockey operations and general manager Joe Sakic made that clear Thursday at Colorado’s end-of-season media availability. Signing the two-time Norris Trophy winner to an extension is already the first item on his desk.
Sakic was asked about Makar’s future with the franchise.
“Cale is going to finish his career here,” Sakic said. “We’re already talking to his agent, so we’re confident that something’s going to get worked out at some point. I mean, he’s got another year, but this summer we expect to have him signed.”
Here’s Sakic from Thursday’s presser:
Makar has one season left on the six-year, $54 million deal he signed in July 2021. That contract carries a $9 million cap hit, and he becomes eligible to sign an extension on July 1.
The numbers explain why Sakic isn’t waiting around. Makar put up 79 points on 20 goals and 59 assists in 75 games this season, third among all defensemen in scoring and third on the Avalanche behind Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. He won the Norris in 2022 and again in 2025, and he has a Stanley Cup ring from 2022.
Sakic only just took over the front office, stepping in after Chris MacFarland left for Nashville earlier this month. Locking up Makar is the first big move of his tenure.
He also pushed back on the idea that Colorado’s championship window is closing after Vegas swept the Avalanche in four games in the Western Conference Final.
“The core guys are still here, so we’re going to shoot and try and win another Cup next year,” Sakic said. “Everybody was disappointed. They want to bring the group back, and they want to try and do it again.”
The Avs went 55-16-11 for 121 points this season, the most in franchise history, and won the Presidents’ Trophy before the Vegas series sent them home early. Keep the 27-year-old anchored to the blue line, and that core has another run in it.
