Bold Number Floated for Cale Makar’s Extension Next Summer
With all the talk about Kirill Kaprizov setting the new standard with a $17 million AAV on his new eight-year, $136 million contract, observers around the NHL are wondering who will be the next 'king of the contract hill'.
Leaving Connor McDavid out of this discussion, since he is in a category all by himself, it's reasonable to expect that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will be the next one to set a new salary bar.
Makar—the top blueliner in hockey—is eligible for an extension next July. And while the Avalanche now undoubtedly realize they made a mistake in letting Mikko Rantanen get away last season, there is no chance they will do the same with their two-time Norris Trophy-winning d-man.
But what will that cost them? According to Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton on Daily Faceoff Live, Makar's AAV could start with an 18. Makar has two years to run on his six-year, $54 million deal with a $9 million cap hit. But with the salary cap soaring in coming years, he could be in line to double his annual earnings.
"I think Makar is going to be Kaprizov-plus," said Yaremchuk. "I think Makar might be $17-18 million."
Cale Makar could surpass Kaprizov as the top earner in the NHL next year
"Makar has got to be licking his chops at home, knowing the way this market is rolling, knowing that he is the best defenseman on the planet and what he’s going to get paid," added Hutton.
"There is a wow factor, but this is the way the cap is going."
The salary cap took a jump from $88 million last season to over $95 million this year. But it soars even higher going forward:
- 2025-26: $95.5 million
- 2026-27: $104 million
- 2027-28: $113.5 million
