Stanley Cup champion coach Bob Hartley issued the NHL a stern warning about Colorado Avalanche superstar Cale Makar.
Hartley, who led the Avalanche to the 2001 Stanley Cup, now coaches in the KHL. He’s at the helm of the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. But that hasn’t stopped him from keeping tabs on the NHL. In an interview with RG Media’s Sergey Demidov published on September 25, Hartley had this to say about Colorado’s Norris Trophy blueliner:
“You can’t stop Cale Makar–you can only try to contain him for a stretch. He’s so fast, strong and smart, and the way he reads the game separates him. He’s a force of nature and one of the league’s biggest attractions.”
Perhaps “contain” is the proper term to describe what opposing coaches do when facing Cale Makar. Last season, Makar shattered expectations by topping 30 goals and 90 points. He narrowly missed the 100-point plateau.
But this season could be when Makar reaches the vaunted 100-point mark from the blue line. As it stands, Makar had the 25th-best offensive season for a defenseman all-time. That may sound like a long way down the list.
When taking into account the names ahead of him, it’s a mind-boggling total. Players such as Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, and Denis Potvin are directly ahead of him. If Makar reaches the 100-point mark, he could top those names and join the likes of Coffey, Potvin, Bobby Orr, Erik Karlsson, Brian Leetch, and AL MacInnis as the only D-men to join the century club.
That’s one heck of a list if Cale Makar can get there.
Hartley credits Cale Makar’s preparation leading into Colorado Avalanche training camp
Bob Hartley knows there’s no magic formula to Cale Makar’s success. There’s no voodoo spell or water fountain to drink from. Makar’s on-ice acumen is the result of hard work and preparation. Of course, Makar has talent. But talent will only get players so far. It’s the combination of everything that leads to such remarkable results.
Hartley stated:
“The players have changed. They’ve become such great athletes. You look at training camps, and players show up on the first day ready to play. They’re faster, stronger, and better conditioned, which makes today’s game much quicker.”
It’s not that hockey players were somehow lazy in the past. It’s just that players nowadays spend the summer training and conditioning. They’re ready to hit the ground running on day one of training camp.
That’s not something that players did in the past. They would take summers off, play golf, and recoup from the previous season. Now, it’s more about active recovery. That approach allows coaches to whittle down on training camp, while focusing more on getting their team ready.
As Hartley noted, the modern game is more about focused practices than on-ice drills. Given how players are better conditioned, they don’t need to do endless bag skates. It’s more about focusing on the final product.
Ultimately, a coach’s job, beyond strategy and deployment, is about keeping players in optimal shape. That’s why a superstar talent like Cale Makar can put up such impressive numbers. Makar, like other stars, shows up to play from the opening whistle.
The 2025-26 season could be one in which Colorado Avalanche fans witness the pinnacle of Makar’s talents.