Avalanche Sign Cale Makar to Record $163.2 Million Extension

The Colorado Avalanche announced on Friday, August 28, 2026, that they have signed star defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year contract extension worth $163.2 million, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history. The deal carries an average annual value of $20.4 million, the first time any player has surpassed the $20 million annual mark. Makar, 27, is entering the final season of his current six-year, $54 million contract. The new extension will begin with the 2027-28 season and keep him with the Avalanche through the 2034-35 campaign.