Makar contract talks enter final phase as salary cap projections rise
Analysts compare Cale Makar’s negotiations to Nathan MacKinnon’s 2022 deal, projecting a potential base of $17.13 million annually against the 2027-28 cap.
As the NHL offseason nears its conclusion, speculation regarding Cale Makar’s contract extension with the Colorado Avalanche has intensified. With exactly one month remaining before the team returns to collective training, anxiety has increased regarding the delay in finalising the deal. The clock is ticking louder as the summer season slips away, prompting comparisons to previous high-profile negotiations within the league.
Some observers have drawn parallels between Makar’s situation and the Mikko Rantanen saga, which ultimately resulted in a trade due to frustration. However, analysis suggests that Makar’s negotiations are more closely aligned with Nathan MacKinnon’s eight-year extension signed in 2022. Unlike the Rantanen situation, Makar’s case involves a core player whose financial terms are being benchmarked against a successful, long-term agreement with a fellow superstar.
Mackinnon’s 2022 deal, worth just over $100 million, established a significant precedent. At the time of signing, he was the NHL’s highest-paid player with a $12.6 million annual average value, securing 15.09 per cent of the $83.5 million salary cap. Although Auston Matthews later surpassed this figure with a $13.25 million AAV deal in 2023, Makinnon’s contract structure remains a key reference point for Makar’s upcoming negotiations.
Extrapolating Makinnon’s cap percentage to the projected $113.5 million salary cap for the 2027-28 season, when Makar’s new contract would take effect, suggests a base of $17.13 million per year. This figure provides a clear financial framework for the Avalanche as they navigate the final stages of the extension process, balancing competitive salary demands with cap management.
The negotiations are also being closely monitored by other top defence prospects, including Minnesota Wild’s Quinn Hughes. Hughes is reportedly waiting for Makar to name his price first, indicating that the Avalanche star’s agreement could set the market standard for defencemen. Meanwhile, San Jose’s Macklin Celebrini recently signed for an $18.8 million AAV, the highest in the NHL, also beginning in the 2027-28 season, adding further complexity to the salary landscape.
