Cale Makar signs record-setting extension with Avalanche

Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini both signed contracts earlier this offseason that made them the highest-paid players in the league, and both of them have very short times at the top of the list. 

It is not a surprise that he was able to secure this sort of contract from the Avalanche. 

He is not only one of their best players, but also one of the best players in the entire league and still in the prime of his career. He does not turn 28 years old until late October, and from the moment he arrived in the NHL has been an immediate superstar.

He has already won two Norris Trophies as the best defenseman in the NHL, while finishing as a finalist for the award in each of the past six seasons. 

Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Makar's first full season in the NHL, his 507 points are 25 more than any other defenseman in the league, while he has played in 32 fewer games than the No. 2 player on the list (Quinn Hughes). 

That point total also places him 17th in the entire league among all players, regardless of position.

And he is doing that as a defenseman. He not only plays major minutes and controls the pace of the game from the back-end, but he also scores like an All-Star-level, top-line forward. That sort of player comes along maybe one time every 25 or 30 years. 

All of those accolades, accomplishments and stats, as well as the fact that the NHL salary cap is rapidly increasing, created an environment for him to cash in. It is a huge salary, but also one that is probably going to be more than worth it for the Avalanche given how good Makar is and should continue to be.