It’s getting late in the summer, and the Cale Makar extension still hasn’t surfaced. That alone is enough to make the Avalanche uneasy, because this feels a lot like the Connor McDavid situation from last year: when a superstar truly wants to sign, it usually happens fast.
That was the line floating around NHL circles during McDavid’s saga, and it carried real weight. The Oilers were basically in no position to play hardball. If McDavid wanted a deal, Edmonton had to meet him wherever he landed.
Makar puts Colorado in the same kind of bind. The Avalanche are going to have to pay him whatever it takes if they want him to stay. If they can’t get there, the idea of trading him becomes part of the conversation.
And if it ever reached that point, Colorado would be staring at a nightmare scenario. Replacing Makar isn’t really a thing. The Avalanche could chase a player like Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, or even somehow land Rasmus Dahlin, but none of those Norris Trophy-caliber defensemen would truly fill the hole Makar would leave behind.
His absence would be that severe. Just losing Makar would be enough to make people question whether the Avalanche still belong in the contender class.
The postseason already offered a glimpse of that. Colorado struggled without him, and the Vegas Golden Knights were able to build a significant lead on the Avalanche in the Western Conference Final while he was out.
That raises the obvious question: could the Avalanche survive that kind of loss over an 84-game season? And if they did, would they still be serious Stanley Cup contenders without Makar?
A trade would be a last resort, not something Colorado would rush into during the season. Even if this drags into next spring, the Avalanche would want to keep him until the year is done. After that, they would try to get something done before free agency opens on July 1, 2027.
If things somehow went sideways, the closest comparison might be the Mitch Marner situation the Toronto Maple Leafs faced last summer. Toronto knew it could lose Marner after the season, kept him through the playoff run, and then worked out a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights once the year ended.
The return there was center Nic Roy, which was more than many expected. If Makar ever forced Colorado into a corner, the Avalanche could at least explore that kind of path.
Still, there’s a huge difference between Marner and Makar. Makar has never shown any sign of being unhappy about money or role. By all accounts, he’s been the model team player.
That’s why the likeliest outcome still looks a lot like the McDavid route: Makar sits down with Joe Sakic before training camp, the two sides hammer out a deal that works, and he goes back to being Cale Makar.
In Other News...
Avalanche Suddenly Have A Real Gavin Brindley Decision Looming
Gavin Brindley gave the Avalanche a useful look last season, getting into 56 games and chipping in six goals and seven assists while working in limited minutes. For a young player still trying to carve out a permanent NHL role, that kind of production matters, especially on a roster that values speed and energy and has shown it can find room for players who fit the pace.
Brindleys case is a little trickier because of how he profiles. He is smaller, but his quickness and work off the puck make him intriguing, and there is also a sense that he may be better suited on the wing than in the middle after holding his own on faceoffs. Even so, the path to a secure roster spot for 2026-27 is far from clear, with more competition coming and a decision point starting to come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar Delay Puts Avalanches Biggest Summer Move In Focus
Cale Makars next contract has become the biggest summer item hanging over the Avalanche, even if the finish line already feels close. A trade is not the real storyline here, and both sides seem intent on getting an extension done without turning it into a public saga. The situation has the look of a top player and a contender simply working through the normal mechanics of a major deal, with Colorado hoping to lock in one of the NHLs defining defensemen for the long haul.
The delay may have more to do with timing than tension, with Makar still working back from offseason shoulder surgery. Theres also a sense that the important part may already be settled, leaving only the formal signing to come once everything is ready. It has a bit of the same feel as Connor McDavids recent contract talks, where the noise never quite matched the level of concern, and for the Avalanche that is probably the best sign of all. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Depth Is Real But The NHL Path Isn't Clear
The Avalanches prospect picture is deeper than it often gets credit for, and a fresh look at the organizations under-25 talent pool reinforces that there is real inventory in the system. Mile High Hockeys staff ranked the top 25 players under 25 in the organization as of Sept. 1, 2026, while also working from an extended list of 35, and the exercise turned up a few near misses who show just how crowded the path can be for young players trying to break through.
Among the players just outside the top 25 were forward Nolan Roed, goaltender Tobias Tvrznik and defenseman Saige Weinstien, each of whom drew enough notice to earn honorable mention status after recent performances that kept them in the conversation. The broader takeaway is familiar for a team trying to balance contention with development: the Avalanche may have more young talent on hand than outsiders realize, but sorting out which prospects can realistically translate that promise into NHL roles is still the hard part. [Read more 🡒]