Cale Makar issues warning to the rest of the NHL

Hope springs eternal as the new NHL season approaches. Teams are in training camp, albeit a shortened one, and the regular season looms in the not-so-distant future. The excitement of Avalanche nation is palpitating, as the thought of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar speeding through the neutral zone feed their minds like little children the night before Christmas.

The Avalanche have some questions this season, as the bottom of their roster has some new faces, and a new general manager, albeit a familiar one, takes the helm. They’ll need all hands on deck if they want to get back to lifting the Stanley Cup, which continues to stand as the goal.

One player fans have been concerned with is their defenseman extraordinaire, Cale Makar. The Calgary native is a dynamo with the puck, and the best defenseman in the world, but he has also seen his fair share of injury issues lately, which has hampered his play and caused some consternation amongst fans.

An upper body injury suffered in last season’s playoffs helped derail the Avalanche’s run earlier than expected, and he came into training camp nursing a lower-body injury, which appears to be on the mend, as the team hopes Makar can play Friday evening in a preseason contest.

When asked about his ailments, Makar displayed confidence, saying he felt “really good,” put in the work over the summer, and he’s in the best spot he’s ever felt right now.

His confidence is news to burgundy and blue nation ears. Anyone who’s followed the NHL for any amount of time knows Makar’s name, and there are plenty of reasons to. He’s never averaged less than a point per game across a full season, sans his rookie season, where he scored 50 points in 57 games and won the Calder trophy as the league's top rookie.

He’s a player the opposition has to gameplan for. Makar scored 30 goals in 2024-25, the most by a defenseman since 2008-09. Makar has had at least 49 assists in his last five seasons. The offense, at least from the back line, runs through Makar, as does the power play.

As the Avalanche also employ all world Nathan MacKinnon, he and Makar provide the team a one-two punch that not many teams can compete with.

If there was any stress outside of hockey for Makar, that will have been mitigated, as he signed a recent contract extension that will make him the highest-paid player in NHL history.

These comments from Makar, on the eve of him seeing game action, as well as his likely stress-free living, can provide him the opportunity to surge to even greater heights this season.

He’s the best he’s felt in years – a thought that gives the other 31 teams nightmares. His stress level is likely the lowest it’s been in some time.

Here’s a wild thought: What if Makar has another level to play at? The dynamic defenseman who’s received Bobby Orr comparisons, could possibly elevate his game even higher.

 With a healthy, focused Makar, a 40-goal season may not be out of reach for the two-time Norris trophy winner. 100 points is very likely for him, as should be a 75 or 80 assist season.

With numbers like that, Makar will continue to cement an already Hall of Fame caliber career. Avalanche nation would love to see it.

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