Taylor Makar is heading into a season that could change the conversation around him.
The Colorado Eagles are going to look a lot different this year after 11 free agents moved on, and that puts a bigger spotlight on the Avalanche’s decision to keep investing in younger players. Extending Makar for two more years fits that plan.
The move wasn’t about the last name on the back of the jersey. It was about what he has already shown.
Makar’s first full pro season gave Colorado plenty to like. He was deployed in every situation, from the penalty kill to the power play, and he led all Eagles rookies with 14 goals and 10 assists.
His best trait was his ability to adjust on the fly. When he found a gap on the edge of the defense, he attacked it and jumped into the rush, creating chances and pressure for the Eagles in the zone.
The one issue that kept showing up was discipline. Makar finished with 56 penalty minutes in 52 AHL games, and many of those penalties came at the worst possible moments for Colorado. Former head coach Mark Letestu said that was the area Makar needed to clean up, noting that he had to learn to control his stick and his massive size.
There were signs of real progress when he got his NHL look last season. Makar played 12 games with the Avalanche and impressed enough that Jared Bednar singled him out as a player who will get ample chances this upcoming season. During that call-up, he looked more dangerous and came close to scoring often.
That experience in both the AHL and NHL should matter now. He should be less hesitant, and that could make his game feel more automatic.
There’s a path here for Makar to earn top-six minutes in Loveland and, if things break right, more bottom-six time in Denver. Put it all together and he could be looking at his first point in an Avalanche sweater and his first 20-goal season.
Taylor has also worked to carve out his own identity as a player, separate from his older brother Cale. The expectations don’t need to be the same.
The way Taylor plays points to a different kind of future, one that could still last a long time. He may not follow the same route, but he could still end up back on the same bench this season.
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