Yardbarker
Avalanche’s Cale Makar sends first message to fans after historic $163 million contract

Avalanche’s Cale Makar sends first message to fans after historic $163 million contract

The Colorado Avalanche made hockey history on Friday when they re-signed defenseman Cale Makar. Makar signed a historic $163 million contract with Colorado, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history.

Colorado Avalanche News / Field Level Media / August 28
Avs' Cale Makar becomes highest-paid player in NHL history

Avs' Cale Makar becomes highest-paid player in NHL history

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar inked an eight-year, $163.2 million contract on Friday, becoming the first player in NHL history to earn more than $20 million per year.

Colorado Avalanche News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 28
Avalanche Sign Cale Makar To An Eight-Year Extension

Avalanche Sign Cale Makar To An Eight-Year Extension

The Colorado Avalanche announced they have signed superstar defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year contract extension. More details to follow…

NHL News / Yardbarker
The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Cale Makar News / Daily Faceoff / August 28
Avalanche sign Cale Makar to largest contract in NHL history

Avalanche sign Cale Makar to largest contract in NHL history

One of the best players in the world has hit a record-setting payday. On Friday, the Colorado Avalanche announced that the team has signed defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year contract extension.

NHL News / Yardbarker / August 28
Cale Makar signs record-setting extension with Avalanche

Cale Makar signs record-setting extension with Avalanche

There was never a question as to whether or not the Colorado Avalanche would sign defenseman Cale Makar to a long-term contract extension. The question was always a matter of when it would get done, how many years it would be worth, and how much money it would involve.

Six potential trade destinations for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck
Will Auston Matthews find a second gear later in his career?
Four under-the-radar PTO candidates for NHL teams to consider
Ranking the Western Conference's biggest winners this summer
Ranking the Eastern Conference's biggest winners this summer
Cale Makar News / NHL Trade Talk / August 28
Avalanche and Cale Makar Sign the Biggest Deal In NHL History

Avalanche and Cale Makar Sign the Biggest Deal In NHL History

Cale Makar has signed the largest contract in NHL history. The deal is an eight-year extension with an AAV of 20.4 million. Although the deal was rumored to be close, there were questions about the term.

Colorado Avalanche News / Colorado Avalanche On SI / August 28
Avalanche Have Too Much Talent for This Problem to Continue

Avalanche Have Too Much Talent for This Problem to Continue

Nathan MacKinnon. Cale Makar. Martin Necas. Nazem Kadri. When you have this kind of talent all on the same roster, there really should not be any struggle to find a way to score goals.

Nick Blankenburg News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 28
Free Agent Profile: Nick Blankenburg

Free Agent Profile: Nick Blankenburg

This summer has featured a somewhat unusual free agency period. The sharp rise in the salary cap has pushed player price tags up in a general sense, but that windfall hasn’t extended to every point in the player market.

NHL News / Yardbarker
The defining figure for every NHL franchise

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / August 28
Four under-the-radar PTO candidates for NHL teams to consider

Four under-the-radar PTO candidates for NHL teams to consider

We’re almost into the month of September, and in the NHL, that usually means two things: training camps are around the corner, and PTO season is about to begin in earnest.

Six potential trade destinations for Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck
Will Auston Matthews find a second gear later in his career?
Chris Pronger believes NHLers should have more control over their careers
Top Vezina Trophy candidates for 2026
Ranking the Western Conference's biggest winners this summer
Ranking the Eastern Conference's biggest winners this summer
  Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!
The '10-time Pro Bowlers' quiz
 The '10-time Pro Bowlers' quiz
The 'Most TD passes in first two seasons' quiz
 The 'Most TD passes in first two seasons' quiz
The 'Switch-hitter 35-HR seasons' quiz
 The 'Switch-hitter 35-HR seasons' quiz
The 'NFL passing leaders since 1970' quiz
 The 'NFL passing leaders since 1970' quiz
Cale Makar News / NHL Trade Talk / August 27
Only Two Ways the Makar Deal Ends Up, and One Starts a Chain Reaction

Only Two Ways the Makar Deal Ends Up, and One Starts a Chain Reaction

As the Colorado Avalanche close in on a contract extension for Cale Makar, one insider is framing the negotiation in a way that makes this imminent deal a very black-and-white situation: the Makar extension is about changing the NHL landscape.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / August 27
2026-27 NHL team preview: Colorado Avalanche

2026-27 NHL team preview: Colorado Avalanche

(Players marked with Xs on jerseys have not chosen their numbers for 2026-27 yet) For 99 percent of the season, things were going very well for the Colorado Avalanche.

Colorado Avalanche News / The Hockey Writers / August 27
What the Avalanche Can Expect From New Additions

What the Avalanche Can Expect From New Additions

Aside from trying to figure out Cale Makar’s contract extension, the Avalanche are looking forward to the coming season. After a disappointing sweep at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights, the Avalanche and their Central Division brethren didn’t do a ton.

Cale Makar News / NHL Trade Talk / August 27
Avalanche and Cale Makar Closing in on 'Biggie' Contract Extension

Avalanche and Cale Makar Closing in on 'Biggie' Contract Extension

One of the summer’s most anticipated pieces of business appears to be closing in. Word is Cale Makar and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to terms on a new contract extension, setting up what could be a historic extension for the two-time Norris Trophy winner.

Cale Makar News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 27
Avalanche, Cale Makar Closing In On Extension

Avalanche, Cale Makar Closing In On Extension

One of the biggest extensions of the offseason is in its final stages. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Colorado Avalanche are closing in on an extension with defenseman Cale Makar.

Colorado Avalanche News / Colorado Avalanche On SI / August 26
Avalanche to Have 16 Nationally Broadcast Games in 2026-27

Avalanche to Have 16 Nationally Broadcast Games in 2026-27

ESPN and TNT Sports announced their respective NHL U.S. national broadcast schedules for the 2026-27 season on Aug. 26, with the Colorado Avalanche seeing 16 nationally broadcast games in the United States as a result.

Sean Behrens News / Colorado Avalanche On SI / August 26
Is This Finally Sean Behrens' Year to Crack the Avalanche Lineup?

Is This Finally Sean Behrens' Year to Crack the Avalanche Lineup?

Sean Behrens’ professional career lost a year before it ever got started. The Avalanche drafted him 61st overall in 2021. He became an excellent college defenseman at the University of Denver.

Colorado Avalanche News / Colorado Avalanche On SI / August 25
Avalanche Could Be Getting a New Central Division Rival

Avalanche Could Be Getting a New Central Division Rival

The Colorado Avalanche could eventually have one more team standing between them and a Central Division title. This one will be different, though. This one will be brand new.

Colorado Avalanche News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 24
Avalanche’s glaring roster flaw that must be fixed before 2026-27 NHL season

Avalanche’s glaring roster flaw that must be fixed before 2026-27 NHL season

The Colorado Avalanche were the best regular-season team in the NHL last season. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar were the stars of the show once again in Denver.

Colorado Avalanche News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 18
Avalanche’s Stanley Cup window is shrinking fast with The Athletic’s NHL Pipeline Rankings

Avalanche’s Stanley Cup window is shrinking fast with The Athletic’s NHL Pipeline Rankings

The Colorado Avalanche are getting a reality check, as the club looks to build a championship team. Colorado is getting ranked dead last at no. 32 in the NHL, in The Athletic’s new pipeline rankings for 2026.

Mackenzie Blackwood News / The Hockey Writers / August 18
Avalanche’s Blackwood Facing Pivotal Season

Avalanche’s Blackwood Facing Pivotal Season

The Colorado Avalanche are still among the favorites to capture the Stanley Cup even if their contention window is slowly closing. They have arguably the most talented core in the league and want to win now.

Colorado Avalanche News / NHL Rumors / August 18
2026-27 Colorado Avalanche Season Preview

2026-27 Colorado Avalanche Season Preview

The Colorado Avalanche enter the 2026–27 season with a refreshed roster after a busy offseason that saw them trade away veteran forwards for younger, cost-controlled pieces while adding experienced depth on a budget.

Ilya Nabokov News / The Hockey Writers / August 15
Avalanche’s Ilya Nabokov Has a Lot to Learn Before Becoming an NHL Goalie

Avalanche’s Ilya Nabokov Has a Lot to Learn Before Becoming an NHL Goalie

A recent interview with Colorado Avalanche prospect Ilya Nabokov offers something more interesting than another update on a young goalie trying to make the NHL.

Artturi Lehkonen News / Yardbarker / August 12
Avalanche face a dilemma with longtime playoff hero

Avalanche face a dilemma with longtime playoff hero

The Colorado Avalanche know exactly what they have in Artturi Lehkonen. That doesn't mean a decision on his future will be an easy one.

Devils’ goaltending gamble could define their 2026-27 season
If Patrik Laine goes to the Maple Leafs, who leaves?
Ranking the Western Conference's biggest losers this summer
Ranking the Eastern Conference's biggest losers this summer
The top five remaining NHL restricted free agents
NHL News / Yardbarker / August 7
Predators GM Chris MacFarland is taking an expensive shortcut

Predators GM Chris MacFarland is taking an expensive shortcut

The Nashville Predators needed a different plan after missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season. MacFarland certainly gave them one.

Florida Panthers may have built the NHL's most hated roster
Flyers can no longer hide behind rebuilding label after aggressive summer
Penguins face uncomfortable reason top players no longer want to play in Pittsburgh
The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz
Nathan MacKinnon News / Trade Talk Sports / August 6
Insider Spitballs Idea of Avalanche Moving on From Nathan MacKinnon

Insider Spitballs Idea of Avalanche Moving on From Nathan MacKinnon

The saying when it’s hard to believe that a big-name NHL star may become available is that Wayne Gretzky was once traded, so anyone can be dealt. That still rings true today, though some players feel far more untouchable than others.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA.