Cale Makar has put his name in the NHL record book.
The Colorado Avalanche star signed an eight-year, $163.2 million extension that carries a $20.4 million annual average value, making him the first player in league history to clear the $20 million-a-year mark. Colorado also got the deal done before the September 16 deadline, when the NHL’s new CBA rules would have taken eight-year extensions off the table.
That payday comes after another standout season from the 27-year-old. Makar posted 20 goals and 59 assists for 79 points in 75 games, earned his sixth straight Norris Trophy finalist nod, logged close to 25 minutes a night and led the Avalanche with 118 blocked shots. It’s the kind of all-around production that makes him the engine of everything Colorado does.
While the Avalanche were locking up their franchise defenseman, Calgary’s future picture kept drawing attention for a different reason.
Zayne Parekh sits at the center of the Flames’ prospect buzz, and the hype is easy to understand. The first-round defenseman brings speed, skill and the upside to grow into a top-pairing blueliner who can run a power play.
But he’s not the only name worth watching. Cole Reschny, Matvei Gridin and late-round standout Ethan Wyttenbach all add to a group that looks deeper than one headline prospect.
That depth matters. Calgary does not need every young player to become a star.
If a few of them develop into dependable NHL regulars, the Flames could start building a young, cost-controlled core. Parekh may be the face of that group, but the collection behind him could end up being the real strength of the rebuild.
There’s also plenty of noise around Winnipeg, where Connor Hellebuyck has asked the Jets for a trade and the club is working to find one. Once that situation is settled, attention is likely to shift to other names on the roster, with Mark Scheifele already surfacing in speculation.
Montreal is one team to keep an eye on. The Canadiens would add another elite center alongside Nick Suzuki if they landed Scheifele, and the fit is obvious on paper.
Scheifele just delivered a huge season of his own, scoring 36 goals and finishing with 103 points. His $8.5 million cap hit makes him look like a bargain at that level.
The obstacle, of course, would be the cost. A move like that would not come cheap, with a first-round pick and several strong prospects likely needed to get Winnipeg’s attention. Montreal already has a young, talented core, and Scheifele would be the kind of addition that could take that group from promising to something much more dangerous.
In Other News...
Jets Suddenly Face A Franchise Goalie Standoff
Connor Hellebuycks future in Winnipeg has moved from quiet uncertainty to an open offseason issue, with the franchise goalie confirming he wants a change of scenery. Jets general manager Kevin Chevaldayoff has acknowledged the request and said the club is working through the situation, leaving one of the leagues most important positions suddenly at the center of a difficult conversation.
What makes the standoff so delicate is the contract structure around it. Hellebuyck remains under team control, and his situation is complicated by a no-movement clause, while interest has already surfaced from clubs including Buffalo. For Winnipeg, the question is no longer whether this is a meaningful development - it is how, and if, the organization can navigate it without upsetting the rest of its offseason plans. [Read more 🡒]
Hurricanes Face A Huge Goalie Question In Hellebuyck Trade Buzz
Connor Hellebuycks future in Winnipeg has moved from the rumor mill into open view, with the Jets goaltender now the center of a conversation that has been building for months. Any move involving a goalie of his caliber would reshape the market quickly, which is why clubs with real ambition, including the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes, have been mentioned as possible landing spots as teams weigh contract structure, no-trade protection and the kind of assets it would take to even start a discussion.
For Carolina, the interest is especially easy to understand because of the position its in and the uncertainty that comes with any major goalie pursuit. The Hurricanes have been connected to Hellebuyck in the broader trade buzz, and their name keeps surfacing as part of the larger league-wide picture as teams try to figure out whether Winnipeg is truly willing to move its star. For now, it is still only speculation, but the possibility alone has been enough to keep the market watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Are Now Part Of Winnipegs Biggest Goalie Debate
The Maple Leafs decision to add Sergei Bobrovsky on a three-year deal, even after his down season, has only added another layer to a goalie market that already had plenty of intrigue for Winnipeg to track. For the Jets, it is part hockey business, part uneasy reminder that elite goaltending is never far from the center of the conversation, especially when a name like Connor Hellebuyck is sitting at the middle of it.
Hellebuycks situation has already turned into one of the leagues bigger talking points, with the sense around the league that he is open to moving on. What makes the Leafs angle so interesting from Winnipegs perspective is the uncertainty around how much Toronto ever engaged on him at all, leaving the Jets and their fans to wonder whether this was a real possibility or just another team circling a franchise goalie without ever fully getting in the game. [Read more 🡒]