One of the major storylines looming for the Colorado Avalanche is the matter of a Cale Makar extension. That’s nothing new here on Mile High Sticking. It’s a topic that’s gotten its fair share of coverage.
That said, there’s an interesting angle to consider in this story.
Both Makar and Quinn Hughes will be entering the final year of their respective deals in 2026-27. Both will be eligible to sign contract extensions on July 1. It’s a rare occurrence that the top two defensemen in the NHL enter their contract years at the same time. That’s why whatever Hughes does could determine what Makar does.
We saw a similar situation earlier this season. There was a bit of a stalemate between Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov. The thought was that one was waiting out the other. If McDavid signed a monster deal, Kaprizov would demand more. Similarly, if Kaprizov signed, McDavid would top that deal.
The issue was that Kaprizov really wanted to be the NHL’s highest-paid player. Well, McDavid made things easy for Kaprizov. He signed a heavily discounted deal, leaving Kaprizov free to become the NHL’s highest-paid player.
That said, could we see a similar stalemate between Hughes and Makar? The Olympic break would have been the ideal time for both to negotiate extensions. However, both Hughes and Makar are at the Olympics. While negotiations could take place between the teams and representation, it’s not likely that a handshake deal could be forthcoming after the Olympics.
But what if one camp is waiting out the other? What if Makar’s camp is waiting for Bill Guerin and the Wild to blink? It’s fair to assume that the Wild will cave to whatever Hughes wants based solely on the Kaprizov situation. As such, could Makar’s camp wait for Hughes to sign and then ask for a better deal?
It’s tough to paint players in such light. But wouldn’t any of us, in a similar situation, try to get the best-possible deal?
Could Makar follow McDavid’s lead?
McDavid did something unprecedented in today’s modern pro sports landscape. He essentially took the same deal he already had and extended it for two years. That move bought the Edmonton Oilers enough time to retool the roster and make a push for another Stanley Cup run.
Yes, McDavid and the Oilers just kicked the can down the road. But it’s a lead that other NHL stars might consider following.
That said, Makar’s current deal pays him $9 million per season. What if Makar turns around and takes a deal similar to the one Martin Necas got? What if Makar decides to sign a short-term deal with a modest pay raise and cut the Avalanche a break?
There is actually good reason for such a move. The salary cap will be rising for the foreseeable future. So, Makar could get the extension out of the way and re-sign in two or three years. By then, the cap could be substantially higher, allowing the reigning Norris Trophy winner to cash in.
That’s why, in the grander scheme of things, it really wouldn’t matter what Quinn Hughes does. Hughes could gut the Wild the way Kaprizov did. That’s their issue. Makar could see McDavid as an example of how a pro athlete can get paid and still give his team a chance to remain competitive.