The Colorado Avalanche are making a strategic roster move ahead of the Olympic break, reassigning forward Taylor Makar to their AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles. With the NHL schedule on pause until Feb. 25, this decision gives Makar a chance to keep his legs moving and stay in game shape during the downtime.
For Makar, this reassignment isn’t unfamiliar territory. He’s spent the bulk of the 2025-26 season with the Eagles, honing his game and gaining valuable pro experience.
But this latest NHL stint marked a significant milestone for the 24-year-old winger - his longest look yet at the top level. Called up on Jan.
21, Makar suited up for seven games with the Avalanche, bringing his total NHL appearances to 12.
While he’s not logging heavy minutes - averaging just over six minutes of ice time per game - Makar’s role has been clear: provide reliable depth, play smart hockey, and make the most of limited opportunities. Among Colorado skaters with at least 10 games played this season, he’s seen the fewest average minutes, which speaks to the Avalanche’s deep forward group and the specific niche Makar is being asked to fill.
Still, this stretch offered a valuable taste of NHL speed and structure - the kind of exposure that can accelerate development for a young player trying to carve out a role. And for Taylor, there’s more to the story than just ice time.
As the younger brother of Avalanche star and Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, expectations and attention naturally follow. But Taylor’s path has been his own, shaped by persistence and steady growth rather than headlines.
Drafted in the seventh round back in 2021 - 220th overall - Taylor Makar wasn’t a can’t-miss prospect. He took the long road, spending four years in the NCAA between UMass-Amherst and the University of Maine before turning pro last spring. Since then, he’s been chipping away at the learning curve in the AHL, where he’s tallied 14 points across 38 combined regular season and playoff games.
Now, with the NHL on pause, the Avalanche are giving him a chance to stay sharp and continue developing with the Eagles. It’s a move that makes sense for both sides - Colorado keeps a young player active, and Makar gets more time to refine his game in a league where he can play bigger minutes.
This isn’t a setback - it’s part of the process. And for a player working to earn a permanent spot in the NHL, every shift in the AHL is another opportunity to prove he belongs.