Colorado Avalanche center Jack Drury celebrates after scoring during the first period in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, Sunday, May 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)The Colorado Avalanche are gearing up for contract negotiations that could push Cale Makar into a new salary bracket. Pierre LeBrun says Makar's camp is using Kirill Kaprizov's $17 million annual value as a starting point.Makar is in the final year of his six-year, $54 million deal and just finished 2025-26 with 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games. Colorado wants to retain its top defenseman, but not at the expense of squeezing the rest of the roster, and the next number could shift the top end of the defenseman market.Cale Makar and Colorado Avalanche discuss historic NHL contract extensionThe Colorado Avalanche might have to shell out a record price to keep Cale Makar in Denver. Kaprizov’s extension with the Minnesota Wild established the market at the top end, and now Makar’s camp has a firm figure to reference.CategoryDetailsPlayerCale MakarCurrent TeamColorado AvalanchePositionDefensemanShootsRightHeight5 ft 11 in (180 cm)NationalityCanadianBirthplaceCalgary, Alberta, CanadaAgeBorn October 30, 1998Draft InformationSelected fourth overall in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado AvalancheContract StatusEntering the final season of his six-year, $54 million contract signed in 2021, with a $9 million cap hit through 2026-27Main Concern for Colorado AvalancheRetaining Makar while preserving salary-cap flexibilitySalary BenchmarkKirill Kaprizov’s reported $17 million average annual value with the Minnesota WildWhy This Deal MattersCould set a new salary record for defensemen and reshape NHL contract expectationsPlaying StyleElite two-way defenseman with high-end skating, puck movement, and scoring ability2025-26 Production20 goals, 59 assists, and 79 points in 75 gamesLeague-Wide ImpactCould influence future negotiations for Quinn Hughes and other elite defensemenWhy Pierre LeBrun's report matters for Cale MakarWhy Pierre LeBrun’s report matters: It provides Cale Makar with a direct comparison. Kaprizov's deal with the Minnesota Wild set a new ceiling, and Makar's camp can point to that number in every negotiation.What Cale Makar has done for the Colorado AvalancheCale Makar followed that up in 2025-26. He had 20 goals, 59 assists and 79 points in 75 contests. The former Norris Trophy winner remains Colorado’s best puck mover from the blue line.How Colorado Avalanche cap space affects Quinn Hughes talksColorado Avalanche cap space will be a factor beyond this one deal. A deal near Kaprizov’s number could impact future negotiations for Vancouver Canucks star Quinn Hughes and other top defensemen. The next offer from Colorado will tell one how far the market will go.