3.) Cale Makar
This one is the most obvious, at least when recency bias is considered. After his career is all said and done, he’ll go down as the greatest defenseman in Avalanche history and he’s already receiving discussion about the greatest defensemen of all-time. Although Makar has only been in the league five years, he’s made a massive impact.
The 2019-2020 Calder Trophy winner as the league’s top rookie hit the ice sprinting and has not looked back. He’s averaged over a point per game throughout his career, with 336 points in only 315 games played. Those are video game numbers for a defenseman. He has an innate ability to change the game from the backend and he’s an invaluable piece for the Avalanche as currently constructed. Makar is a difference maker and a player other teams need to gameplan for each night.
He was a vital piece of their 2022 Stanley Cup championship and has already won a Norris Trophy in 2021-22 as the league’s top Defenseman. Makar is also already a three-time All Star and won the Conn Smythe trophy in 2021-22 as the most valuable player in the playoffs.
He arguably already has a hall of fame-worthy career, and it’s only just beginning. The only season he did not average a point per game was his rookie year, and he was just short, totaling 50 points in 57 games. Makar has scored more than 20 goals twice in his career and has over 85 points in a season twice thus far.
There’s no debate on Makar having a place on Mount Rushmore.