As September approaches, Colorado Avalanche fans are justifiably antsy about the lack of progress on the Cale Makar contract extension front.
That’s a topic we’ve covered extensively over the last few weeks here at Mile High Sticking. But now, there actually seems to be a decent update on what could happen between the Avalanche and the best defenseman in the NHL.
In a surprise edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman delved into the topic. During the broadcast, the notable insider mused about the possibility of the Avalanche and Makar following the same path the organization did with Nathan MacKinnon.
Specifically, Friedman recalled how the Avalanche announced MacKinnon’s eight-year extension in 2022 during the Avalanche’s annual charity golf tournament. That momentous event happened on September 20, 2022. It was right before the beginning of the season and ended the speculation regarding the All-Star center’s contract uncertainty.
So, it seems that the announcement, not necessarily the contract signing, could come in mid-September. No official date for this year’s tourney has been announced. Last year, the event took place on September 15. That date, coincidentally, is the last day the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) will be in force.
That’s why it’s reasonable to think that the Avalanche might sign the contract ahead of the deadline, with the official announcement coming during the event.
Looking at the rationale for a similar move by Avalanche
There is a clear rationale for the Avalanche wanting to emulate the move they made with MacKinnon. There’s no question that Makar is just as important as MacKinnon. In fact, treating this situation any differently runs the risk of minimizing Makar’s place on the team.
Needless to say, that’s the last thing the organization wants at this point.
That’s why it would make sense for the Avalanche to follow the same path they did with MacKinnon. Utilizing the golf tournament as the backdrop for the announcement, right before the beginning of the season, would not be the craziest idea in the world.
In fact, it would keep Makar at the same level as MacKinnon. It’s the sort of move that organizations make to ensure that there is a proper place for their most important stars.
What could be the price tag on Makar?
Friedman discussed Makar’s potential number. He believes the Norris Trophy winner won’t back down from something in the $16 million to $18 million range. Moreover, Friedman thinks that Makar and Quinn Hughes are in a bit of a game of chicken, seeing who signs first.
Those are all viewpoints we’ve discussed earlier. As such, it remains to be seen whether that’s actually going to be the case.
The only other sticking point could be the term. I’ve posited that a three- or four-year deal will be the likeliest outcome of this negotiation. It’s hard to fathom the Avalanche and Makar going the full eight years, unless there is a real willingness to end speculation once and for all.
We shall see. The key thing to keep in mind here is that Makar isn’t going anywhere. Thus, it seems like announcing the extension at the Avalanche charity golf tournament could very well be the right thing to do.
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