Big decision looming for Jared Bednar in regards to who plays with Cale Makar

Before this season started, there was no more of a set-and-forget duo on the Colorado Avalanche than Cale Makar and Devon Toews. They were the perfect complement to each other’s play styles that could terrorize other teams in the offensive zone and shut down the league’s best forwards in the defensive zone while masterfully managing transitions between the two. The two playing together was such a given that even Team Canada put and kept them together during the Olympics.

However, as the end of the regular season approaches, head coach Jared Bednar is faced with the question of whether Toews is the best choice of wingman for Makar or if there is a better choice both for the pairing and for the defense as a whole. Which approach should he take to form his most pivotal defensive pairing?

Don’t rock the boat

As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Cale Makar and Devon Toews have a built-in chemistry that is rare and special at any level of hockey. Their shared intuition is honed, and they understand how to work together in tandem to create offense and to be in control on defense.

The biggest question mark for this duo has been their production together this season, which has not been nearly as dominant as in seasons past. Their possession numbers are good but have taken a bit of a hit since the Olympic break. In the 5v5 time that they played together before Makar went out with injury, they were on the ice for eight goals for and eight goals against. The Avs need that pair to do much better than break even in their minutes together.

Despite the downturn in production, there is a foundational belief that they can turn it up a notch or ten together once the playoffs begin and dominate at the same high level at which they have succeeded in the past. It would be easy for Bednar to turn to them and trust them to get the job done.

Offense with a side of more offense

If Bednar wants to put his thumb on the scale of generating as much offensive output as possible, he could load up with a pairing of Makar and Sam Malinkski. It is clear that Malinski has modeled and grown his game off of the style of Makar and pairing the two of them together would give the team a dual threat on the offensive blue line, which would open more space for everyone, including the forwards, to create good scoring chances.

Over the 200 minutes that they have logged at even strength together this season, the Avs scored thirteen goals while ceding only five. That is excellent work over that sample size and the team could use that offense-first mentality from that duo, especially at home where Bednar can control their deployment and create favorable matchups.

Ying and yang bring balance

The arrival of Brett Kulak in Colorado has provided Bednar with the option of putting a true stay-at-home defenseman with Makar to give him more freedom to work his magic and to have his back just in case. It is a risky choice since the duo has not had good possession numbers together in the approximately 100 minutes they have been on the ice together at even strength.

Outside of the pair itself, putting Makar and Kulak together opens the possibility to have a similar pair in Malinski and Toews. Since the Olympic break, and due to Makar’s injury, Malinski and Toews have had excellent chemistry together with the Avs, scoring 15 goals and allowing only six. It would give the Avs an excellent 1-2 punch for their defensive pairings with Manson and Burns used as needed along the way.

When it comes to deciding who the best partner is for Makar once the playoffs begin, Bednar has an embarrassment of riches from which to choose, but it will be important for him to make the right choice because it could be the difference that leads the Colorado Avalanche to championship glory.