The Colorado Avalanche may be on the verge of wrapping up one of the biggest business items on their board.
Insider Elliotte Friedman said Thursday that a Cale Makar extension is closing in, and he hinted that an announcement could come soon.
“About to go off-line for a bit, but the much-anticipated extension for Cale Makar and Colorado is closing in
Going to be a biggie…but a critical piece of business for the Avalanche”
The exact numbers remain unknown for now, but the “biggie” label points to a deal that could land in the $16 million range and beyond. If that’s where this ends up, there’s no real expectation of a hometown discount. Colorado would be paying top dollar, and that seems to be the reality both sides are moving toward.
That matters for the Avalanche, who would like to avoid any lingering tension over Makar’s contract. The longer this drags out, the more the speculation swirls. A completed deal would finally put all of that to rest and give the team some breathing room on one of the most complicated issues it has faced in recent memory.
There are still a few big unknowns to sort through, starting with the money. Colorado knows it won’t come cheap to keep Makar. The open question is how high the number climbs.
With NHL salaries continuing to rise, the expectation is that the Avalanche will have to go big. A figure around $16 million annual value or more is in play, and it wouldn’t be shocking if the total pushes into the $18-million range given what younger, unproven stars have been getting.
Term is the other major piece. How long will the extension run? Since the deal is likely to be done before the Collective Bargaining Agreement kicks in, there’s hope it could be an eight-year extension.
For now, though, it’s all still speculation. The Avalanche and Makar should clear up the uncertainty soon enough, and once they do, the waiting game will be over. The only thing left is to see exactly when the next update arrives, because the sense is that it could happen at any time.
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Avalanche Fans Suddenly Have A Bigger Reason To Watch Makars Deal
Cale Makar is expected to sign a contract extension with the Avalanche, a move that would only reinforce how central he is to Colorados future. The organization has not made anything official yet, but the anticipation around a new deal has already become part of the bigger picture for a team that has been built around elite talent on the back end.
Connor Hellebuyck has also become part of the conversation after his agent publicly requested a trade from Winnipeg, and that has naturally sparked some speculation about Colorados possible interest. Nothing has been confirmed, and the idea remains conjecture, but it is the kind of twist that can quickly give Avalanche fans another reason to keep an eye on the rumor mill while they wait on Makars deal. [Read more 🡒]
Cale Makar And Avalanche Are Closing In On A Massive Deal
The Avalanche have made keeping Cale Makar a clear priority, and the next step appears to be a long-term extension for the star defenseman as he heads into the final season of his current contract. Makar is due to become an unrestricted free agent next July, and the deal being discussed would not even kick in until the 2027-28 season, a reminder that Colorado is planning far beyond the immediate future.
Joe Sakic said he expects the contract to be wrapped up before training camp, which would remove one of the biggest lingering questions around the roster. If the sides finish the job, Makar could land among the NHL's highest-paid players, a fitting marker for a player who has become central to everything Colorado wants to do moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Avalanche Prospect Francesco DellElce Is Suddenly Worth Watching Closely
Francesco DellElce has gone from interesting depth piece to a prospect worth tracking more closely in the Avalanche pipeline. The 21-year-old defenseman at UMass landed No. 7 in Mile High Hockeys Top 25 Under 25 for the organization on Sept. 1, a recognition that reflects both his upside and the way his game fits Colorados preferences on the blue line. Drafted 77th overall in 2025 as a re-entry, DellElce has drawn notice for the skating and leadership traits that can play in an Avalanche system that values mobility and quick decision-making.
For Colorado, the intrigue is not just about where he stands now, but how quickly he could move into the picture. DellElce is viewed as a promising prospect who may be in position to sign after his junior year, which gives the Avalanche a longer runway to watch his development while keeping him on the radar as one of the more notable names in the group. If his progress at UMass keeps matching the early impressions, he could become a much bigger part of the conversation than a mid-round pick usually does. [Read more 🡒]