The biggest storyline for the Colorado Avalanche as of late has been the upcoming extension for defenseman Cale Makar. While he is still under contract for another season, the team is going to want to take care of his next contract probably as soon as possible.
The answer about how much he is going to cost against the salary cap remains to be seen, but NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has a prediction that Avalanche fans are going to absolutely love, especially if it comes true.
"I think he’s going to get whatever he wants. I’ll bet you he does not max out. They’ll go to him and they’ll be like, “we could pay you whatever you want, and you deserve it,” and he’ll take a big number like he deserves, but I don’t think he’ll take everything he can."Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts
Now, how much will that be, exactly? It’s anybody’s guess, but here’s a fun tidbit: The absolute maximum percentage of the salary cap that a single player can take up is 20%.
For the 2026-27 season, the salary cap is going to be at $95.5 million. 20% of that is $19.1 million. That would surpass the highest-paid player for the 2026-27 season, Kirill Kaprizov, who is averaging $17 million a season following his latest extension.
Makar absolutely deserves every penny he is given. But, the fact that Friedman doesn’t think Makar will dry up the Avalanche’s salary cap is interesting. Friedman is obviously the biggest in-the-know person in NHL circles, and while I’m sure nobody straight-up told him this, Avalanche fans can still rest easy from now on because it’s not set in stone that Makar will command the absolute most he can get from the Avs.
For the 2026-27 season, Makar is the third-highest-paid player on the Avalanche. Nathan MacKinnon takes the cake for the top spot at $12.6 million, with Martin Necas second at $11.5 million. MacKinnon’s deal is a steal, and if Necas has a strong 2026-27 postseason, his deal could also be called a steal.
One thing is for sure: The Avalanche and Makar have every intention of hammering out a deal, and the salary cap rise will play a huge role in what Makar eventually makes.
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