Makar’s Mega Deal & Cap Crunch | Colorado Avalanche News

Cale Makar just signed an eight-year, $163.2 million deal with Colorado, making him the NHL’s highest-paid player — and it’s a payday that perfectly matches his elite status, Norris Trophies, and Stanley Cup pedigree. But now the Avalanche face a brutal cap crunch: with Makar and MacKinnon already eating up over $40 million, building a championship-caliber roster around them feels like a tightrope walk. While Makar’s loyalty paid off for the team, this contract sets a new benchmark — one that could reshape how teams approach long-term deals for top defensemen like Quinn Hughes. Meanwhile, Connor Hellebuyck is demanding a trade out of Winnipeg, but don’t expect him to skip training camp — Jets GMs are known for patience, and a deal will likely get done before puck drop. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fe272c181da03c42