Cale Douglas Makar is a talented Canadian ice hockey professional defenceman, who is currently playing with the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on October 30, 1998, his hockey career started with the Colorado Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry draft.
Makar played two seasons with the UMass Minutemen in the NCAA before his selection in the NHL. He made his NHL debut in the 2019-2020 season and immediately made his impact in the league, earning the prestigious Calder Memorial Trophy as the Rookie of the Year. In his second season, Makar was also nominated for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, an award that is given to the NHL's best defenseman. He was ultimately awarded the Norris Trophy for the 2021-2022 season.
His monumental moment was during the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs where he helped the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup victory. Makar's outstanding contribution earned him the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs. He is regarded as one of the top defensemen in the league for his impactful skills and talent.
Cale Makar Siblings
Cale Makar has one younger brother named Taylor Makar who was born on March 13, 2001. The brothers were born to parents Laura MacGregor and Gary Makar in Calgary, Alberta. Taylor Makar is also involved in the sport, he has played UMass-Amherst, where Cale played college hockey. He was also selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round as the 220th overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry draft.
Taylor has established himself as a strong player in college hockey with the UMass Minutemen. In the 2023-2024 season, he showcased his ability with a goal against Boston University and also scored significant assists against Michigan and AIC.
He emerged as a key player in the 2022-2023 season, contributing two assists and a total of 10 points. He marked his momentum with a winning goal against Maine where he was named the No. 1 star in the UMass Minutemen. In 21 Hockey East contests, he scored seven points including five goals and two assists. Taylor's scoring ability and hockey talent have made him a valuable player in the UMass Minutemen.
Cale Makar NHL Achievements
Cale Makar's NHL journey has been remarkable, he achieved a milestone on October 28, 2021, scoring his 100th point in just 108 games. He became the seventh-fastest defenseman to achieve this feat. He stood out during the 2021-2022 season, where he scored his 24th goal and secured a victory against the Philadelphia Flyers, setting a new record for the most goals scored by a defenseman in the history of Avalanche in a single season. Maker finished the season with 28 important goals, the most goals scored by a defenseman in the NHL after the 2016-2017 season including 58 assists. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy for his contribution. He also finished eighth in voting for the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the most valuable player of the league.
Makar continued his impact in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs where he contributed ten points in the first four games and led the team to claim the Stanley Cup. Cale Makar was named for the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player in the playoff season. With the Conn Smythe and James Norris Trophies, he became the third-only defenseman in the NHL to claim both trophies in the same season.
In the 2022-2023, he maintained his incredible performance and reached his 200 career points as a defenseman. He set the record for scoring his fastest 200 points in NHL history. Cale Makar has established himself as a valuable asset of the Avalanche.
FAQs
A. Cale Makar has 336 points in his career.
A. Cale Makar had 21 goals last season.
A. Cale Makar is number 8 for the Colorado Avalanche.
A. Cale Makar is 26 years old.
A. Cale Makar has been in the NHL since 2019.
