Cale Makar

Cale Makar
Quintin Soloviev · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Cale Makar
Birth date	March 30, 1998
Birth place	Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height	6 ft 0 in
Weight	193 lb
Position	Defense
Shoots	Right
League	NHL
Team	Colorado Avalanche
Drafted	4th overall, 2017 NHL Draft
Draft team	Calgary Flames
Career start	2019

Cale Makar is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Widely regarded as one of the leading offensive defensemen of his generation, he has received multiple individual awards and contributed to championship success at junior, collegiate, and professional levels. Makar's rapid development from Alberta youth hockey through the Western Hockey League and the NCAA to the NHL has drawn comparisons to elite skaters and playmakers across Canada and the United States.

Early life and junior career

Born in Calgary, Alberta, Makar grew up in a hockey family; his early influences included fellow Albertans and NHL players such as Jarome Iginla, Joe Sakic, and Theo Fleury. He played minor hockey with the Edge School programs and represented the Calgary Buffaloes and Airdrie Xtreme at bantam and midget levels, competing in events like the Telus Cup and the Canada Winter Games. Makar was selected in the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft by the Medicine Hat Tigers but chose the AJHL and played for the Brooks Bandits and later the AJHL South division, where he led the Bandits to an AJHL championship and set franchise records for defensemen. His performance attracted attention from NHL scouts and led to ranking lists by the Central Scouting Service and publications such as The Hockey News, influencing his projection for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Collegiate career

Instead of joining the WHL immediately, Makar enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, competing for the UMass Minutemen in the Hockey East conference of the NCAA Division I. Under coach Greg Carvel, he developed alongside teammates who included future pros and NHL draftees noted by ESPN and TSN. Makar's freshman season showcased his skating, vision, and transition game; he earned recognition from the Hobey Baker Award watch lists and received weekly honors from Hockey East and national outlets such as USCHO.com. Following his sophomore campaign, he was named a finalist for major collegiate awards, drew comparisons to collegiate defensemen turned NHL stars like Paul Coffey and Brian Leetch, and entered contract discussions with professional organizations.

Professional career

Drafted fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Calgary Flames, Makar's rights were traded to the Colorado Avalanche in a high-profile transaction involving players such as Johnny Gaudreau and Sam Bennett. He signed an entry-level contract and began his NHL career after a brief stint in the AHL with the Avalanche's affiliates and development camps led by coaches from Joel Quenneville’s coaching tree. Makar made an immediate impact with power-play quarterbacking and five-on-five creativity, joining teammates like Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Gabriel Landeskog in the Avalanche top-six group. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year, earned selections to the NHL All-Star Game, and secured the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenseman. In the 2021–22 season, Makar played a pivotal role in Colorado's Stanley Cup playoff run and the franchise's championship victory, contributing key goals and assists and earning postseason accolades. He continued to post elite analytics across metrics tracked by NHL Advanced Stats, Hockey-Reference, and Natural Stat Trick.

International play

Makar has represented Canada at multiple international tournaments, including the IIHF World Junior Championship and senior events such as the IIHF World Championship. He featured on rosters managed by Hockey Canada and coached by figures involved with national programs like Dale Hunter and Todd McLellan. His international play emphasized transition offense and breakout passing, complementing teammates drawn from the OHL, WHL, QMJHL, and collegiate ranks. Makar contributed to medal-contending efforts and was noted in scouting reports by IIHF media and international broadcasters including TSN and CBC Sports.

Playing style and equipment

Makar is known for elite edgework, high-end skating mechanics, and quick first strides, traits compared by analysts to the skating of Paul Coffey and the offensive instincts of Erik Karlsson. His skill set includes stretch passes, zone exits, and power-play vision; coaches and commentators from outlets such as Sportsnet, ESPN, and The Athletic have highlighted his ability to generate scoring chances at even strength and on the man advantage. On defense he uses gap control, stick positioning, and active mobility to neutralize opposing forwards from rosters like Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. Equipment preferences include a right-handed composite shaft and blade from manufacturers such as Bauer and CCM, protective gear consistent with NHL standards, and a helmet conforming to HECC and CSA certifications.

Personal life

Makar's family includes parents who supported his early development through local hockey programs and his younger siblings who played in Alberta minor leagues. He has been involved in community initiatives and charitable events partnered with organizations like NHLPA programs and local Calgary youth hockey foundations. Off the ice, Makar has pursued academic interests during his time at UMass Amherst and maintains connections with former coaches and teammates active across NHL, AHL, and collegiate circles. His residence during the NHL season has been in the Denver area while representing the Colorado franchise.

Category:1998 births Category:Canadian ice hockey defencemen Category:Colorado Avalanche players Category:Stanley Cup champions