DENVER — Cale Makar, the Colorado Avalanche’s dynamic defenseman, is known for deflecting both pucks and praise regarding his achievements on the ice. The 26-year-old player prefers to stay out of the spotlight, despite consistently finding himself in the center of attention.
Recently, Makar reached an impressive milestone by scoring his 100th NHL goal during a game against Dallas, marking this achievement in just 362 games. This accomplishment positions him as the fifth-fastest defenseman to achieve this milestone since the league began tracking such statistics in the 1943-44 season. Only a few Hall of Famers, including Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, and Denis Potvin have reached the milestone more quickly.
Staying true to his humble demeanor, Makar downplayed the significance of reaching the 100-goal mark. Two days prior to the achievement, he remarked, “I guess just another thing along the way. I don’t really look at (milestones) like that. I wish it would come and go.” His teammates, however, are more than willing to celebrate Makar’s accomplishments. This season, he leads all defensemen in points with an impressive tally of 15 goals and 37 assists.
Teammate Mikko Rantanen expressed admiration for Makar, noting, “You kind of forget how special he actually is. He’s one of the best ‘D’ ever to play the game.” Currently, Makar has accumulated 101 career goals, in addition to 287 assists, giving him an average of 1.07 points per game. If he maintains this pace, he would join the ranks of legends like Orr and Coffey as one of the highest-scoring defensemen in NHL history.
Coach Jared Bednar praised Makar by stating, “I’m a little biased, but you’re watching one of the best defensemen that’s ever played the game.” He continued to highlight Makar’s significant role within the team, as the player averages a hefty 25 minutes and 37 seconds of ice time per game, ranking as the third-highest in the league.
Defenseman Keaton Middleton acknowledged Makar’s unique talent, saying, “The stuff he does on the ice, it’s incredible. He’s one of a kind.” Middleton expressed eagerness to learn from Makar, especially when it comes to offensive strategies. “If he’s saying, ‘Try and shoot here,’ I’m going to be like, ‘OK, I’m listening to him,’” he added, emphasizing his respect for Makar’s skills.
Makar’s 100th goal came during a power play in a 6-3 victory over the Stars, showcasing his exceptional skating and vision. He received a pass from Nathan MacKinnon and fired a rising wrist shot that found its way past Dallas goalie Casey DeSmith.
Bednar commented on Makar’s achievement, highlighting how quickly he reaches milestones throughout his career. “We’ve talked about that for years now, some of the milestones that he hits, and the timing of them,” he said.
In addition to his impressive goal count, Makar is set to represent Team Canada in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. This season marks his fifth with 50 or more points, a franchise record for a defenseman. He also started the current season with a 13-game point streak, which ranks as the second-longest for a defenseman to start a season, trailing only Orr’s 15-game streak set in the 1973-74 season.
“It’s fun to watch,” Middleton commented about Makar’s performance. “I don’t know what (other) words I can use to describe him. I guess I’ve got to get a thesaurus.”
In other news, Makar missed practice due to soreness after taking a puck off his skate, although coach Bednar noted he is hopeful Makar will be ready to take the ice in the upcoming matchup against Minnesota. Meanwhile, Valeri Nichushkin, who has been sidelined since December 31 due to a lower body injury, skated with the team but did not complete the entire practice. Bednar remains optimistic about Nichushkin’s return, stating that his status is “not great, but hopefully still getting close.”
