Cale Makar’s Quiet Stretch Highlights Avalanche’s Scary Depth
We know what Cale Makar is capable of. The Norris Trophy winner isn’t just one of the most dynamic defensemen in the NHL-he’s a game-breaker, a player who can tilt the ice every time he hops over the boards.
He’s hit the 20-goal mark three times already in his young career, including last season’s career-best 30-goal campaign. He’s topped 90 points in each of the last two full seasons and was knocking on that door during Colorado’s Stanley Cup run in 2021-22.
So when he’s not filling up the scoresheet like usual, it stands out.
Right now, Makar’s in a bit of a lull by his standards. Heading into last night’s game against Vancouver, he had points in four straight-including a goal-but zoom out a bit and you’ll notice a trend.
He’s gone three straight games without a goal, and it’s the third time this season he’s had a stretch like that. In fact, he’s been held goalless in 19 of Colorado’s 26 games so far.
Now, let’s be clear-this isn’t a red flag. He’s still producing, and his nine goals in 26 games put him on pace for 28 this season.
That’s just shy of his career-high, so it’s hardly a slump in the traditional sense. But for someone who’s redefined what it means to be an offensive defenseman, it’s noticeable when the goals aren’t coming quite as frequently.
What’s more surprising is the power play. The Avalanche have scored 15 goals with the man advantage this season-good for a 16.1% success rate-but none of them have come off Makar’s stick.
That’s not for lack of effort. Colorado’s still working through the kinks of a new-look power play, and the results have been inconsistent.
But Makar has been a key facilitator, leading the team with eight power play assists. Once the unit finds its rhythm, you’d expect Makar’s goal total to climb right along with it.
And here’s the thing: the Avs haven’t missed a beat. They’ve won nine of their last 10 games, and they’ve done it without a single goal from Makar in the last four. That’s a testament to just how deep this team really is.
Take Saturday’s blowout win over Montreal. Colorado hung seven goals on the Canadiens, spreading the wealth across five different players.
Brock Nelson and Gabriel Landeskog each lit the lamp twice, while Nathan MacKinnon, Brent Burns, and Devon Toews added one apiece. That’s a full-on offensive showcase, and Makar didn’t even factor into the goal column.
Landeskog’s resurgence has been one of the season’s best stories. After a long, frustrating three-year absence, the captain is finally stringing together games-and goals-that count. He’s up to five goals and nine assists through 26 games, and he’s starting to look like his old self again.
Victor Olofsson has quietly become one of the more pleasant surprises on the roster. With six goals and 10 assists in 26 games, he’s found a way to contribute consistently. He’s earning more and more trust from head coach Jared Bednar, even if he’s currently riding a seven-game goal drought.
Jack Drury, centering the third line, has chipped in four goals while logging 15:14 of ice time per night-the most he’s averaged since his rookie year in Carolina. And Parker Kelly?
He’s got five goals of his own, skating 12:08 per game, which is just a tick below last year’s career-high of 12:45. These aren’t just warm bodies filling out the bottom six-they’re making tangible contributions.
Defensively, the Avs have been just as impressive. They’ve held opponents to one goal or fewer in 12 games this season, with a couple of shutouts sprinkled in.
Their goal differential is a jaw-dropping +50, having scored 106 goals while allowing only 56. That breaks down to 4.07 goals scored per game and just 2.15 allowed.
That’s elite on both ends of the ice.
And now, with Valeri Nichushkin back in the fold after a lengthy absence, the Avalanche are getting even stronger. Add a fully dialed-in Makar to the mix, and this team becomes downright terrifying.
So yes, Makar’s not scoring at his usual clip right now. But the Avalanche are rolling anyway. And when he inevitably finds that next gear-as he always does-it’s going to be a nightmare for the rest of the league.