When Cale Makar was compared to Bobby Orr by the GOAT Wayne Gretzky

The Colorado Avalanche's Cale Makar turned heads with his impressive performances on the ice in the 2022 season. He also earned high praise from one of the greatest hockey players of all time, Wayne Gretzky. After Makar helped lead the Avalanche to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance since 2001, Gretzky compared him to one of the most legendary defensemen in NHL history, Bobby Orr.

Makar, who had long idolized Orr, was humbled by the comparison and said he had tried to emulate Orr's personal aspects of the game, including how he treated people off the ice.

Makar wasn't just all talk. In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, he recorded nine points in a four-game sweep twice, a feat that only four defensemen have accomplished in NHL history.

Gretzky spoke about Makar's game, saying,

"I would say probably, the closest player we’ve ever seen that offensively and defensively can make an impact on the game that much, probably Bobby Orr."

Makar's impressive performances helped him quickly establish himself as one of the NHL's brightest young stars. In his third season, he finished the 2021-22 regular season with 48 goals and 132 assists.

Being compared to the likes of Gretzky and Orr was high praise for any player, let alone one in the early stages of his career. However, Makar's incredible talent and determination have already put him in rare company.

Cale Makar's NHL career

Cale Makar is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted fourth overall by the Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. Makar quickly made an impact, scoring a goal in his first game and helping lead the Avalanche to the second round of the playoffs.

In the 2019-2020 season, Cale Makar won the Calder Trophy as the NHL's top rookie after tallying 50 points in 57 regular-season games. Makar was named to the NHL All-Star Game in the 2020-2021 season and helped lead the Avalanche to the second round of the playoffs.

Cale Makar has quickly established himself as one of the top young defensemen in the NHL and is often compared to legendary defensemen like Bobby Orr. His impressive performances have helped him become one of the NHL's brightest young stars, and he is expected to continue to be a key player for the Avalanche for many years to come.