Avalanche GM and president of hockey operations Joe Sakic is a man of his word. He said he wanted to get Cale Makar’s contract done before training camp started, and he did. One thing was for sure — the deal was going to be long-term.
“(It) was mid-July when we started our conversation. Both sides, there wasn’t one conversation on term. Both sides wanted the eight years, and it really didn’t take a lot of time …,” Sakic said. “But it really was an easy negotiation, and we knew where the cap was going. Cale deserves everything he’s going to get, and it’s nice to have that certainty with his contract.”
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Confidence in Makar’s talent and ability translated to a historical $163.2M contract with an average annual value of $20.4M. The new deal goes into effect after this season.
“He’s a generational player. Unreal to watch, fan favorite, to see what he does and what he can do on the ice, it‘s so special,” Sakic said. “And to have him locked in here for the next nine years is just a great thing for the entire city of Denver, state of Colorado, organization. As a fan of the game, to get the opportunity to watch Cale out there on the ice for the next nine years is pretty incredible.”
Makar wanted long-term, no chance of moving
There is a no-movement clause for the full term included in the contract. It is less common than the no-trade clause, but it ensures a higher level of protection for the player. It restricts a team from trading the player, placing them on waivers, or sending them to the minor leagues without their explicit permission.
“Talking to his agent, Brian Bartlett, we had great communication throughout. It wasn’t even really a negotiation, to be honest with you. We just knew it was going to happen. It was going to be put in the contract,” Sakic said. “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.”
Avalanche focus on building around MacKinnon and Makar
The Avs have secured their core players, including Makar, Gabriel Landeskog, Nathan MacKinnon, and Devon Toews, along with newer stars Martin Necas and Brock Nelson, for the next few years. With his deal done, there is a sense of relief and excitement for him and the team.
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“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 years. But works for the whole term of the deal and can be utilized and also built around,” Makar said.
Sakic emphasized the importance of getting the Calgary native signed long term and how that reflects the direction of the team.
“We have a couple generational players in him and Nathan, and you’re going to make sure that they’re being paid right where they’re supposed to be. And now for us, it’s building the team around those two, but when you know their numbers, it’s a lot easier to do.
“It’s a great thing for us to be in this situation to have these guys in our organization. There’s 30, probably 31 other teams that would love to have them on their rosters. It’s a lot easier to build around them than trying to look for them, and we’re in a good spot,” Sakic said.
Mutual respect from both parties in contract agreement
The agreement on terms and pay demonstrated mutual respect from both parties. Several NHL players have taken shorter contracts, but the 27-year-old blueliner needed to get what he wanted as much as the team needed to reach its goals.
“It was nice for us to have Cale show the trust in the organization. And wanting to give the full eight years was huge for us, and our ownership, the Kroenkes,” Sakic said. “They’ve always given us everything we needed, and for them to guarantee all that money for Cale shows a lot of his commitment from the Kroenkes.”
Next steps for Makar and the Avs organization
Now that the deal is done, Makar and the Avs are focused on winning another Stanley Cup.
Colorado suffered a sweep in the Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights, with Makar missing the first two games due to a shoulder injury. He underwent rehabilitation over the summer and is ready for training camp.
“It’s a process. A lot of guys go through it. For me, it took a while to feel good …,” Makar said. “I’m very comfortable with where I’m at before camp, and hopefully continue to try and build it. It’s just one of those things that you’re in the business to win, and you do everything you can to get there. Sometimes it takes a little bit extra time after to recoup, but that’s just the way it goes.”
Training camp is expected to begin in mid-September.