Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract that begins in the 2027-28 season, making him the first player in NHL history to earn more than $20 million per year. The agreement pays the 27-year-old Calgary native $20.4 million annually through the 2034-35 campaign. Makar won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2021-22 and 2024-25, along with the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff Most Valuable Player when Colorado won the Stanley Cup. He led NHL defensemen with 92 points in 2024-25 and has recorded 136 goals, 371 assists and 507 points in 470 career games, all with Colorado since 2019-20. The contract surpasses Macklin Celebrini's five-year, $94 million agreement with the San Jose Sharks, which carries an AAV (average annual value) of $18.8 million. Makar also played for Team Canada and won a silver medal at the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy. Makar said he was excited and humbled to remain with the Avalanche and described Colorado as a second home, while Joe Sakic, the Avalanche president of hockey operations/general manager, called him a generational defenseman and said the organization was thrilled to retain him for the next decade.