As Cale Makar’s extension talks continue, Joe Sakic isn’t sounding the alarm - even with the market for top defensemen shifting around him.
The Colorado Avalanche GM was asked Sunday about former Avs blueliner Bo Byram landing a massive new deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, and he brushed off any suggestion that it changes the outlook for Makar. Byram was traded from Colorado to Chicago for a No. 4 pick at the 2026 NHL Draft, then signed a six-year, $75 million contract in July.
The deal begins in the 2027-28 season and makes him the league’s highest-paid defenseman once it kicks in. Erik Karlsson currently holds that active distinction with an AAV of $11.5 million.
“Really? I haven’t noticed that,” Sakic cracked about the contracts and how it might affect the market for Makar.
“Like I said, I’m not worried about it. I don’t think Cale’s worried about it.
Dialogue’s been great and when there’s an agreement, we’ll gladly announce it. Hopefully, something will be done before the start of training camp.”
He doubled down on that confidence a moment later.
"Everything's great. Not worried about that. There's been coaches, there's been players that have gone into their last year of their deals before, and there's going to be in the future, so not really concerned about it."
Makar is now in the final year of his six-year, $54 million contract, and he became eligible for an extension on July 1. Sakic said the sides are still in contact and sounded convinced the deal will get done before the season begins.
“We continue talking,” Sakic said before taking the ice against the University of Denver alumni at Magness Arena. “I’m pretty confident that he’ll be signed before the season starts."
That confidence comes as one NHL analyst has pointed to Sept. 15 as a key date for the negotiations. Drew Livingstone wrote last week:
“28 days left until Cale Makar can no longer extend for 8 years with the Avs. Expect a resolution soon #GoAvsGo."
Makar, drafted No. 4 overall by Colorado in the 2017 NHL draft, has spent the last seven seasons with the Avalanche. The 27-year-old two-time Norris Trophy winner finished last season with 79 points, including 20 goals and 59 assists, in 75 games.
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