It's Official: Cale Makar Announces Record-Breaking Extension With Avalanche

A deal is done! Cale Makar broke the news on the Colorado Avalanche social media channels, announcing that he has signed an eight-year extension with the team.

A historic day 👀 pic.twitter.com/trOBwCd8EH

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) August 28, 2026

The deal comes in at a record-breaking $20.4 million AAV. That's $163.2 million total.

"Couldn't be more excited to continue my journey here with the Avalanche in the city of Denver. So here's to another hopefully amazing nine years," Makar announced. 

The deal blows away the previous NHL record, set just a few weeks back by Macklin Celebrini, at $18.8M AAV. And Leo Carlsson's $18M? That's old news now. 

In becoming the NHL's first $20M player, he will become the league's highest-paid player as of July 1 next year, as he will first play out the final season of a six-year, $9 million AAV deal this coming year. Carlsson will go into the 2025-26 season as the highest-paid player. 

No, he did not take the maximum allowable under the cap, but came pretty close. The $20.4M cap hit is just short of the $20.8M max he was eligible to sign for.

Makar, 27, has earned himself billing as the top blueliner in hockey. He won the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, two Norris Trophies as top defenseman, and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in leading the Avalanche to the 2022 Stanley Cup championship.