The Colorado Avalanche have already spent plenty of the offseason reshaping things, but the biggest job still sitting on Joe Sakic’s desk is the Cale Makar contract.
That’s where the tension lives: Makar is the kind of player who can command $20M AAV right now, and the argument here is simple - he has every bit of leverage to ask for it. Yet the way fans and management talk about these deals, there’s already an expectation that he should take less just because he “loves it here.” That’s a dangerous setup if he decides to maximize his value.
Joe Sakic put that mindset out there through Corey Masisak of the Denver Post: “Cale loves it here. He wants to be a part of this for a long time. We expect him to be reasonable and take a deal that helps the team.”
That kind of language is exactly what fuels the double standard. Organizations get to hide behind “it’s just business” whenever they move players, but players are often treated like they’re being selfish the second they ask for market value. The piece argues that if a team can make a move for financial reasons, a player can do the same for family and long-term security.
And Makar isn’t being discussed as an ordinary star. He’s described as a generational talent, the sort of player who comes along maybe once in a few decades. If that’s the case, then the price tag is part of the package.
The article points to how quickly people accept team-driven decisions when the front office says cap space or roster balance is the reason. Val Nichushkin was moved for bottom-six talent, and that was framed as part of the business of reworking a roster.
Sakic defended that move by saying, “We don’t win the Cup in 2022 without him. He was a big part of that team...
It was a tough decision, but we felt it was necessary to create some cap space and continue to build our team for the future.”
Alex Tuch’s exit from Buffalo brought a different kind of reaction. He signed for 8 x $10.5M in an era of extreme inflation, and the backlash came fast.
Tuch said, “It was one of the toughest decisions of my life... I sat there for a second because it was definitely one of the toughest moments of my life.”
Bowen Byram drew similar treatment, with criticism focused on whether he was worth the money despite being a 25-year-old Stanley Cup Champion who holds the record for most goals from a defender during the playoffs in Buffalo and helped get the Sabers back to the postseason for the first time in 15 years.
Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet situation followed the same pattern. Daniel Briere and the Philadelphia Flyers made the move, the Ducks matched, and what should have been straightforward good news turned into immediate expectation.
Pat Verbeek said, “It was always our intention to match any offer sheet... We’re happy to have Leo back.
He’s a big part of our future.”
The larger point is that money changes the conversation, but the rules should cut both ways. Players have budgets and family priorities too, and the CBA exists to give both sides agreed-upon rights. That includes no-movement clauses, even if people complain about them.
The message at the center of all this is blunt: if Colorado wants Makar in Denver for the long haul, it has to pay for that reality. And if the Avalanche are hoping to find savings from a bona fide generational talent, the article says they’re setting themselves up for failure.
The warning is straightforward as well - every day Makar goes unsigned, he gets more expensive. The same thing happened with Mikko Rantanen and Martin Necas. If the goal is to keep him, the answer is to pay him and sort out the rest later.
In Other News...
Chris MacFarlands Martin Necas Move Looks Bigger For The Avalanche Now
Chris MacFarlands decision to lock up Martin Necas before the NHL salary cap took its next big jump is looking smarter by the day for the Avalanche. Necas followed the deal with a breakout season, finishing with 38 goals and 62 assists in 78 games, and the timing of the extension now stands out as one of those front-office moves that can quietly shape a roster for years.
For Colorado, the benefit goes beyond the player himself. By getting Necas signed when it did, the Avalanche preserved more room to build around him instead of chasing a much pricier contract later, a kind of cap management that can determine how much depth a contender can keep in place. Even after MacFarlands departure, the move still looms large because it gave the franchise flexibility at a moment when every dollar matters. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Legends Are Coming Back For A Special Hockey Weekend
A familiar summer showcase is headed back to Magness Arena, with Colorado Avalanche and University of Denver hockey alumni set to meet on Sunday, Aug. 23 in a special weekend event that should give fans a chance to see some old favorites in a new setting. The day is being built around more than just the game, too, with a Fan Fest planned to add the kind of atmosphere that turns a reunion into a full hockey weekend.
There will also be a VIP experience attached to the event, giving the weekend a more exclusive feel for fans who want to get closer to the action. Tickets go on sale July 27, and with alumni appearances still being rolled out, this is one of those late-summer dates that could draw plenty of attention from a fan base that never really stops caring about its legends. [Read more 🡒]
One Avalanche Depth Change Could Spark A Breakout Season
The Avalanches depth chart is already giving way to a few intriguing career-year bets for 2026-27, and the names at the center of it are the kind that can quietly reshape a season. Cale Makar remains the obvious headliner, but the more interesting part of the conversation is how much room there is for players around him to climb if their roles expand and their recent progress holds. Sam Malinskis offensive uptick, Mackenzie Blackwoods chance to put a healthier season together, and Artturi Lehkonens long-awaited push toward a scoring milestone all fit into that broader picture of a roster that could have more ceiling than it first appears.
For Colorado, the appeal is less about one splashy breakout than the possibility that several pieces take a step at once. Makar is still the standard-bearer, of course, with expectations that he can get back to the level that made him a Norris Trophy force, but the supporting cast matters just as much in a league where depth often decides the margin between a good team and a dangerous one. If Lehkonen finally converts more of his chances and Blackwood stays available, the Avalanche could end up with more than just star power carrying the load. [Read more 🡒]