‘It wasn’t really a negotiation’: Avalanche, Makar on how eight-year deal came together

While many might think a record-breaking deal might have taken a lot of hoop-jumping to get through, that apparently wasn’t the case in the Mile High City.

Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic and defenseman Cale Makar met with the media on Monday, the first time since Makar signed an eight-year contract extension, which will see him be paid $20.4 million, a new NHL record, through the 2034-35 campaign.

Sakic noted that making such a deal with a player of Makar’s caliber was a no-brainer.

“I think it’s huge. It’s huge for the organization, for the city. Obviously, we’re really excited,” Sakic said.  “We have nine more years of Cole here in the Avs jersey, and that was the goal the entire time. He’s a generational player. Unreal to watch. To see what he does and what he can do on the ice is so special, and to have him locked in here for the next nine years is just a great thing for the entire city of Denver, the state of Colorado, and, like I said, the organization.”

Makar himself added that he wants to be with the Avalanche for a very, very long time.

“We were just talking in the hallway about how quick it kind of goes by and to think that however old I’m going to be at the end of this,” Makar said. “So it’s got to take it year by year. But for me, it’s just kind of ever since being drafted by the Avs and them giving me the opportunity to kind of come in here and for me to feel the whole process of being a professional hockey player and the exceptional experience it’s been since being in Denver, all factors that played into my decision to want to be here long term. I’m very fortunate to have an amazing group of guys and an amazing group of ownership and management as well that trusts us and gives us opportunity every year to succeed. It’s definitely an amazing place to play. Very fortunate to be able to sign this deal and be here for the next long while.”

Sakic mentioned that, when speaking to Makar’s camp, the chats weren’t all that tedious.

“Talking to his agent, Brian Bartlett, we had great communication throughout,” Sakic said. “It wasn’t even really a negotiation, to be honest with you. We just knew what was going to happen. Cale’s that player who has the right and should have the right to dictate where he wants to play for his entire career. So there wasn’t even a thought on that.”

Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner who helped the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022, noted that he wanted the max term on his extension.

“I think for me the main thing never really wavered off the term,” Makar said. “I think for myself personally, I really wanted that eight years. It gives us a lot of clarity in the sense of the direction that we want to go, obviously being able to hopefully succeed over the next nine years and then have that stability and knowing that contracts there and pieces that we can build around.”

The Calgary native added that the deal will work for both him and the franchise throughout the term of the deal.

“So for me, it was definitely something that comes down to a deal that I felt works for both sides and something that doesn’t work just for the first couple of years, but works for the whole term of the deal and can be utilized and also built around. So very excited that we were able to get this done.”

Makar has spent seven full seasons with the Avs. In 470 regular-season games, Makar has posted 136 goals and 371 assists for 507 points. He already ranks 10th all-time in franchise scoring and ninth in assists. His career plus/minus of +168 also places him fourth in the team’s history. In 90 postseason contests, Makar has registered 90 points, good for fifth in franchise history.