Three underappreciated aspects to Cale Makar’s game

Cale Makar never ceases to amaze with his sweet wrist shots, smooth edgework, and pinpoint passing. But there is so much more to his game than just his highlight-reel plays. Much of what makes him a generational defenseman are those traits that fly under the radar. His execution is what grabs attention, but it is how he processes the game that makes him truly special.

Playing the angles

Cale Makar is elite at both reading and knowing how to play his angles in both the offensive and defensive zones. When on the attack, his head is always up and scanning the ice. He sees and anticipates the play so well that he knows where a seam is going to appear and positions himself to exploit it. His explosiveness in striking at those openings puts opposing defenses on their heels and opens up space for Makar to find his teammates.

With as elite as Makar’s vision is on offense, it is even better on defense. His secret weapon is treating the blue line like another defender and using it to pinch off opponents’ zone entries. He is able to angle his body and his stick in such a way as to cut momentum and access to passing lanes. If the opposing forwards do manage to gain the zone, Makar is still able to frustrate them by knowing how to take away time and space and force them into turning the puck over.

Bringing the physicality, as needed

While Cale Makar will never be known as a bruiser, he does not shy away from using his body to impact the play. He does not bring the thunderous power of the well-known big-hitting defensemen, but he makes up for that with knowing how to best apply leverage to most effectively separate the player from the puck. He also attacks the opposing player’s body in such a way that removes him from the play and, as a result, puts himself in a position to retrieve the puck and exit the zone quickly.

Makar is also willing to take away scoring opportunities by putting himself in shooting lanes and blocking the puck. He led all Avalanche players with 118 blocks last season, which was 19 more than Josh Manson’s 99. Like when playing the body, rarely does he sell out to make the block. Rather, he puts himself in a position to jump on the counterattack if he is able to accomplish the block.

Shouldering soft-spoken leadership

From the bench, to the ice, to the locker room, Cale Makar shoulders a lions-share of the leadership responsibility for the Avs. The “A” on his shoulder was earned, not awarded. It is obvious that his interest is not in personal accolades, but on overall team success. He is intentional to make sure that he wants his words and his actions to elevate the play of those around him.

Makar also does not shy away from criticism. He is regularly willing to bear the scrutiny after a loss and usually vows to ensure that the path back to victory starts with him playing better and leading by example. That is why many believe he will be the one to succeed Gabriel Landeskog as captain some day.

While hockey fans will, for good reason, highlight Cale Makar’s many accomplishments on the ice, it is his underlying attributes like the ones mentioned here that makes his the best defenseman in the NHL.

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