Avalanche Sign Taylor Makar To Two-Year Contract

According to a team announcement, the Colorado Avalanche have signed forward Taylor Makar to a two-year, $1.75MM ($875K AAV) contract. The new contract will be a two-way deal for the first year before converting to a one-way in the second.

Makar, 25, recently wrapped up his first professional season. The younger brother of Cale Makar, Taylor spent three years at the University of Massachusetts before transferring to the University of Maine for his senior campaign. He wrapped up his time at Maine, having scored 18 goals and 30 points in 38 games before signing a contract with the Avalanche.

Expectedly, Makar spent much of his first season with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, where he played fairly well. He finished his rookie campaign with 14 goals and 24 points in 52 games with a +12 rating, adding another two goals and six points in 17 postseason contests.

Additionally, Makar made his NHL debut, though it didn’t go as well. After 12 games, Makar is still searching for his first NHL point. He didn’t play that much, averaging 6:13 of ice time, but that arguably shouldn’t have mattered much for Colorado this year. Makar was one of only two players, the other being netminder Mackenzie Blackwood, to have played more than five games for the Avalanche this past season and not register a point.

Regardless, given that the deal converts to a one-way contract in the second season, Colorado likely has a long-term plan for Makar in the team’s bottom-six. Hopefully, for the Avalanche’s sake, Taylor isn’t the only Makar that signs an extension with the team over the next few days.