Cale Makar became eligible for a contract extension starting on July 1st with the Colorado Avalanche. General manager Joe Sakic has already committed that Makar will be in Colorado for his entire career. But the longer the Avalanche wait to re-sign him, the higher the price becomes for the Norris-winning defenseman. Two instances explain the price increase, potentially resulting in substantial cost elevation for the Avs. Here we break down who they were and what they could have done to benefit Makar.
Joe Sakic wants Cale Makar with the Avalanche for life 👀 pic.twitter.com/3sRt1B4Vb6
— BarDown (@BarDown) June 12, 2026
Bowen Byram
Former Avs defenseman Bowen Byram may have helped set the tone for Makar. Byram was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Chicago Blackhawks on June 23rd. The Hawks then worked out an extension with Byram for the next six years at $12.5 million AAV. Byram will make as much as Connor McDavid now, and he has never won the Norris Trophy or the Conn Smythe like Makar has.
Bowen Byram, extended 6x$12.5M by CHI, is an offensive defenceman with a roving, aggressive game built on carrying the puck up-ice and activating in the o-zone. Great shot and ability to create for himself, but a fair question how much he can legitimately drive play. pic.twitter.com/czBllcOQMa
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 1, 2026
The most points that Byram has produced in a single year was last season with 42. This would compare to Makar’s 92 two seasons ago, which led all defensemen in the NHL.
Leo Carlsson
We all know that Leo Carlsson is not a defenseman, but that may not matter in this case. Carlsson is an unrestricted free agent who was tendered an offer sheet by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Swede, having completed only three seasons in the NHL, could become the highest-paid player in the league. The Flyers set the standard at five years with an $18 million AVV. Now, the Anaheim Ducks have two more days to match the deal, or they will be compensated with four of the Flyers’ first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons.
We have tendered an offer sheet to Anaheim center Leo Carlsson. The offer is a five-year contract worth an average annual value (AAV) of $18M, which would require four of the Flyers first-round draft picks in each of the next four seasons as compensation. https://t.co/nfhD4h6nEc
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 3, 2026
Anaheim plans to match the offer, but this would raise the value of players like Makar and Nathan MacKinnon significantly. Carlsson has not scored more that 67 points in any of three seasons and seen the playoffs in one season.
Cale Makar has the right to ask for whatever he thinks he is worth at this point. CBA rules say that he cannot make more than $20 million in a season, so with the Carlsson offer, expect him to sit at $19–20 million per year. Makar is worth every penny to the Avs, but by waiting, it may have cost them a lot more than they wished to spend.
