Copyright sportskeeda
The Colorado Avalanche have benefited from their duo of Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar once again. They started the 2025-26 season well with a 6-1-4 record, tied for No. 1 in the Central Division. Makar, who has a rating of 11 this season, has also scored 12 assists, giving his best two-way effort.NHL insider Elliotte Friedman spoke on Friday's episode of the "32 Thoughts" podcast. He talked about Cale Makar’s next contract with Colorado. Makar is signed for six years on a $54 million deal and will be eligible to sign an extension in July 2026."This whole thing that Colorado had to do was about Makar," Friedman said. "Like every negotiation, they have now is about Cale Makar, you know, where and what's the number going to be, and they can start negotiating with him this offseason."Friedman explained that the Avalanche will ask Makar to take a little less money. This helps the team stay strong while keeping their top player. But he compared Makar's situation to Kirill Kaprizov’s new deal with the Minnesota Wild. Kaprizov signed an eight-year, $136 million contract on September 30.Friedman said Makar’s next deal could be the next big one in the NHL."If you're the Avalanche right now, and you get him to come in a penny under Kaprizov, you are considering it a W, and not just a W, not a little W, a massive W," Friedman said. "And I can see that being their approach."And let me just say this, I don't know what Makar wants. I don't know what he's thinking. He's probably just thinking the business will take care of itself. But I think if you're in Colorado and you end up signing him under that number, under that 17, you're sitting here and you're saying, 'What a win for us'. It is the next big one."Friedman believes Makar deserves every dollar he earns but expects smart talk from both sides.Avalanche D-man Cale Makar praised Lane HutsonColorado Avalanche star blueliner Cale Makar praised Montreal's Lane Hutson for his strong start this season. Hutson has scored one goal and nine assists for 10 points just 11 games into the season.Makar said it was impressive for a rookie to produce early."It's pretty amazing," Makar said. "Any player that comes in his first year and is able to produce and find ways to help the team, I think it's a pretty incredible feat. He's only going to continue to get better and better. I think there's another aspect to his game that people haven't seen yet..."Hutson has also signed an 8-year, $70.8 million contract with the Habs, but Makar’s next contract will be big for the Avalanche and the NHL.
