Mile High Sticking
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Colorado Avalanche : Reviewing the New Guys

By Will Cooper

DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 07: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his third goal of the game against the Nashville Predators with teammates Andre Burakovsky #95, Nazem Kadri #91 and Cale Makar #8 as hats fall from the stands at Pepsi Center on November 07, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 9-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO - NOVEMBER 07: Joonas Donskoi #72 of the Colorado Avalanche celebrates his third goal of the game against the Nashville Predators with teammates Andre Burakovsky #95, Nazem Kadri #91 and Cale Makar #8 as hats fall from the stands at Pepsi Center on November 07, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Predators 9-4. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Cale Makar

Last season (UMass): 16G; 33A – 49 Pts; +32 rating in 41 GP

This season: 8G; 20A – 28 Pts; +10 rating in 29 GP

Cap Hit – $880,833

Last on my list, but by no means least in any way.

Well, we all know about this young man. If not, you’ve been living far away from Avalanche territory. Last season’s Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in the NCAA, Makar signed his entry level contract and promptly joined the Avalanche for their playoff series in Calgary. He scored on his debut and then subsequently terrorized the Flames and Sharks during both playoff series.

Most people were convinced he was the real deal. Those who were on the fence are certainly off of it now, as Makar has spent his regular season scoring at or about a point per game pace. His numbers trail only John Carlsson (43 points) and Dougie Hamilton (30 points) in the whole league for Defencemen.

https://twitter.com/avalanche/status/1194436134501339136?lang=en

Oh, and he’s done all of this without taking a penalty. That’s right, folks, he has zero penalty minutes in 29 games played. He plays 20 minutes a night without sitting in the penalty box. So far this season, he’s up to 9 hours of good clean hockey. This certainly helps his chances of securing the Calder Trophy and even being in the conversation for the Norris Trophy by the year’s end.

A word on the Calder – Makar appears to be in a two horse race at the moment with Vancouver’s Quinn Hughes. Not Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko, the latter of whom doesn’t even lead the rookies on his team in scoring. Of course, this could change over the rest of the season, let’s hope that changes in a good way and Makar shatters Larry Murphy’s rookie record of 76 points in 80 games in a rookie year on Defence.

I only hope that Brad Marchand didn’t injure him too badly. Yet another reason to hate Boston, I suppose.

Quarter-Season Grade: A

Keep doing what you’re doing, kid! Your time on the Power Play will help you get more points, particularly if you keep the attention on you, while making massive spaces for MacKinnon and Rantanen to roam about in.

I am sure that the hype will not go away and that there will be much to talk about with this young man as the season progresses.

Next. Cale Makar is Far from Boring. dark

The Colorado Avalanche really do look well-stocked with all the new talent on the team.

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