Avalanche’s Cale Makar to miss game vs. Stars for birth of twins

The Colorado Avalanche will be without their two-time Norris Trophy winner as he prepares to become a two-time dad.

The Avalanche announced that defenseman Cale Makar will miss Tuesday’s road game against the Dallas Stars as he is back in Denver with his wife awaiting the birth of their twins.

Makar, 28, has been his typically dynamic self to start this season, as he’s put up three goals and four assists for seven points in five games played while averaging 21 and a half minutes of ice time.

Last season, the Calgary native scored 20 goals and added 59 assists for 79 points in 75 games, finishing second in voting for the Norris Trophy. He also served as an alternate captain for the Canadian men’s national team at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, putting up two goals and four assists for six points in six games en route to Canada earning a silver medal.

Selected fourth overall by Colorado out of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Makar went on to play two collegiate seasons for UMass Amherst, including in 2018-19 when he led all NCAA defensemen in scoring with 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 41 games.

He debuted for the Avalanche in the 2019-20 season, immediately impressing with 12 goals and 38 assists for 50 points in 57 games to win the Calder Trophy.

Now in his eighth season with Colorado, Makar has established himself as arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. He helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, notching eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points in 20 playoff games to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. He won the Norris Trophy in 2022 and 2025.

Following Tuesday’s game in Dallas, Colorado will host the Stars on Wednesday for the second leg of a home-and-home set.