This will be a topic of debate for quite some time I imagine. The first topic of debate will be if Makar id the best D man in the league, Analytics proponents of which obviously I am one, will say no. However, although I value analytics quite a bit, I also realize context is needed. This data is based on the regular season for the last 3 years with a very low play driving year in 2023-24. Why is that? Well because Colorado is a seasoned NHL squad that has learned the value of giving players easier deployment during the regular season to save them for the playoffs. When a team has tons of talents they can and should do that. Teams like the Maple Leaf's should take note. Regardless it does affect the underlying numbers for sure. That being said Cale is, IMO the most skilled defensemen in the league as shown by the 100s on the chart. When playoffs do come around and he elevates his game there is no better as far as I am concerned. Makar is also a right defenseman which is even harder to find. A leader in the room, a warrior who has played through debilitating injuries, and way better defensively when the chips are down than this chart suggests. So as far as talent is concerned, he is worth whatever he can get really.

This is a messier question. Makar's contract takes up 19.6 percent of Colorado's cap space next year leaving them with 11.6 million in cap space and top 6 forward Arturri Lehkonen and bottom 6 Nic Roy to sign as well as either D man Brent Burns or his replacement. Lehkonen should easily get 8 and they will be hard pressed to fill the other two spots with what's left. The Avs will probably lose Wedgewood between the pipes as well. So with this in mind, knowing that Colorado will lose depth at least in the short term should they let him go or try to trade him? That is pretty much what they would have to do if he sticks to that number, which he almost for sure will do. The answer is clearly no. Makar has a full no move clause so he could not accept a trade anyways and even if he did it would almost assuredly be on his terms which would be a team his agent worked out a deal for that he wants to go to. The return on that would be bullocks and just letting him go would leave Colorado almost in rebuild mode. Not to mention the seats he brings into the stands and his value to sponsorships and likely T.V. rights. People want to see Makar. Colorado had little leverage if any and certainly didn't want to get into a brawl with Cale. So yes, they had to pay him.

What we may see if their isn't a form of a luxury tax and maybe even if there is, is teams starting to sway away from the big-ticket players. If you have been following me I have been doing articles, and You Tube content with this in mind. I may look at a progressive way to build a deep lineup with players that can play a complete game rather than acquiring big ticket type players, If I were building a team now, I might consider trading top 5 Picks for value players that can shutdown other team's top lines and score a bit as well. Draft with that in mind as well. Kill the opposition with depth that they likely will not have because they are top heavy with big ticket players. Focus on the best wingers and keep the centers in at the 2nd and 3rd line quality. Wingers come at better value and if they have a high defensive I.Q. in all three zones they can help the defense enough that you do not have to pay top cheddar for them as well. Pour more money into draft and development and analytics staff to identify these players on the market and in the draft. If a team is wanting the players that milkshakes bring the people to the rink though. They will be paying up for it like Colorado did with Makar.