NHL Rumors: Cale Makar's Projected Next Contract Revealed

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar looks on during 2025 game.

The Cale Makar contract conversation is starting to feel inevitable. 

As the salary cap climbs and elite players continue to reset the market, the idea of Makar landing at $16 million per season no longer sounds outrageous, according to NHL.com writer Dan Rosen.

Makar's current contract, which runs through the 2026-27 season, sees him earning $9M annually, a steal for what the two-time Norris Trophy produces.

Cale Makar contract could hit $16M without crippling Colorado

A $16 million AAV for Cale Makar feels massive on paper, but in practice it fits where the league is heading. By the time a new deal would kick in, the salary cap is expected to reach roughly $113.5 million. 

That would put Makar at just over 14 percent of the cap, which is completely reasonable for the best defenseman in the world who drives offense, controls play, and logs massive minutes in every situation.

This season, the 27-year-old has recorded 10 goals, 40 total points, a +31 plus/minus rating, and 22 takeaways across 33 games played. He's also averaging 25:13 time on ice per game.

The idea that Makar might take $12 to $13.5 million to help Colorado build depth sounds nice, but it ignores reality. Colorado has known this contract was coming for years and has structured its roster accordingly. 

Makar is not a replaceable piece or a luxury. He is the foundation. If the Colorado Avalanche somehow signed him under $16 million, that would be a huge win, but there is no pressure forcing him to leave money on the table when the cap is rising and his value is unmatched.

This is also why comparisons to deals like Kirill Kaprizov’s matter. If Makar lands even a dollar below that range, Colorado will feel good about it. Anything less than that starts to feel unrealistic given where the market is going.

Next season, when Kaprizov's new contract kicks in, these will be the top-10 NHL leaders in AAV:

1. Kirill Kaprizov ($17M AAV)

2. Leon Draisaitl ($14M AAV)

3. Jack Eichel ($13.5M AAV)

4. Auston Matthews ($13.25M AAV)

5. Nathan Mackinnon ($12.6M AAV)

6. Connor McDavid ($12.5M AAV)

7. Kyle Connor ($12M AAV)

8. Mitch Marner ($12M AAV)

9. Mikko Rantanen ($12M AAV)

10. Elias Pettersson ($11.6M AAV)

Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

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