Cale Makar signs $163.2 million deal with Avalanche, raises NHL defenseman bar
NHL News • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 28, 2026, 10:11 PM
Last updated Aug 28, 2026

Cale Makar agreed to an eight-year, $163.2 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche on August 28, 2026. The contract features an average annual value of $20.4 million, making it the highest for a defenseman in NHL history. This deal is expected to affect future contracts for players like Quinn Hughes, Zach Werenski, and Carter Schaefer. The Avalanche continue to build around Makar as a cornerstone player.
- •Makar's contract is valid for eight years.
- •The $163.2 million deal includes an average of $20.4 million per year.
- •The signing may impact contracts for upcoming star defensemen.
- •This signing occurs as the Avalanche prepare for a competitive season.
- 10:11 PMNHL News — Makar raises bar for NHL defensemen with 8-year, $163.2 million contract - NHL.com
"Deal, worth $20.4 million annually, will have massive ripple effect on futures of Q. Hughes, Werenski, Schaefer
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