The Colorado Avalanche have one Makar who’s top of the bill. There is no question that Cale Makar is an all-world player that will sell tickets everywhere he goes.
But there’s another Makar brother who could be turning heads this season.
That’s Taylor Makar.
The junior Makar seems to have a real shot at making the Opening Night roster. And with the game he played on Sunday night, he’s made a significant statement towards earning a full-time roster spot.
Against the Utah Mammoth, the 25-year-old scored a nifty goal, showing why he’s so much more than just Cale’s younger brother.
Taylor Makar.
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) September 21, 2026
That's it. That's the tweet. pic.twitter.com/U9aS2SYE8k
The former seventh-round pick from the 2021 NHL Draft is increasingly looking like one of those late-round steals. After all, it’s not very often that seventh-rounders even make the NHL.
But to make a significant impact is something else entirely.
While Taylor Makar has yet to put a dent in the NHL scoresheet, the fact that he’s factoring into the conversation for a bottom-six role at this point is highly encouraging. He’s got the size to be a solid NHL-caliber grinder. Plus now, he’s adding a decent skill set to go with his overall game.
If Makar can really translate his skill set into a full-time role, the Avalanche may just have two talented brothers leading the way this season.
Where does Taylor Makar fit into Avalanche lineup?
Now, it’s easy to typecast Taylor Makar into a fourth-line role. However, such a situation might be underutilizing his talents.
On the Avalanche's fourth line, Makar would likely see less than 10 minutes a night, playing mostly dead minutes, just buying time in between Nathan MacKinnon shifts.
That said, Makar would be a fine fourth-line addition. He could take on shifts against some of the opposition’s tougher forwards, while potentially adding some scoring punch.
But there is a case to give Taylor Makar a chance higher up in the lineup.
For instance, moving Nic Roy to the 3C role, with Makar lining up with Jaden Schwartz on the wings. That could be a line that might just work. And it’s something to keep in mind, considering that newcomer Fedor Svechkov hasn’t exactly knocked anyone’s socks off yet.
The likeliest outcome for Taylor Makar is heading down to the AHL to start the season. He’s waivers-exempt. So, there’s that consideration to keep in mind. But Avalanche fans should be certain that the junior Makar will be among the first call-ups, should someone like Svechkov struggle out of the gate.
It’s great to see the Avalanche has a good problem that is younger players pushing their way into the NHL lineup.
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