Cale Makar Bio
Cale Douglas Makar, born on October 30, 1998, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as a defenceman and alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League. Selected fourth overall by the Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he has built a reputation as one of the most dynamic defencemen of his generation, combining elite skating with playmaking and scoring. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2020, the James Norris Memorial Trophy in 2022 and again in 2025, and the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping Colorado capture the Stanley Cup in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Cale Douglas Makar was born on October 30, 1998, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is the son of Gary Makar and Laura MacGregor, and he grew up in a hockey household with Ukrainian heritage on his father’s side. His father, Gary, is a distant relative of former NHL centre Tom Lysiak, giving the family a long connection to the game. Makar was named after former NHL defenceman Cale Hulse, and he grew up cheering for the hometown Calgary Flames.
Makar first skated in the Crowchild Blackhawks minor hockey program before joining the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association Bruins at the Bantam level in 2011. He also played Bantam with the Calgary Flames and later moved to minor midget with the NWCAA Stampeders, building the foundation that would eventually carry him to professional hockey. He was originally selected by the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat Tigers in the eighth round of the 2013 WHL Bantam Draft, though his path ultimately led away from major junior hockey.
Path to Hockey
To preserve his NCAA eligibility, Makar joined the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League as an affiliate player late in the 2014–15 season. He quickly became a dominant junior defenceman, earning AJHL Rookie of the Year honours in 2015–16 after posting 55 points in 54 games and helping Brooks win the AJHL championship. The following season, he led all AJHL defencemen in scoring with 75 points and was named the RBC Cup Most Valuable Player in back-to-back years, becoming the first player to earn that distinction twice.
Considered a top defenceman prospect heading into the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Makar was selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche, making him the highest-drafted player to come straight from the AJHL. Rather than turn professional immediately, he honoured his commitment to the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he spent two seasons developing his game and winning the prestigious Hobey Baker Award in 2018–19 as the top college player in the United States.
Cale Makar Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
Makar began his collegiate career with the UMass Minutemen in 2017–18, stepping into a top-pairing role as a freshman and recording 21 points in 34 games. He was named co-Rookie of the Year by the New England Hockey Writers Association and earned Hockey East All-Rookie and Third All-Star honours. After a strong debut season, the Avalanche attempted to convince him to turn professional, but he opted to return to UMass for his sophomore year.
In 2018–19, Makar elevated his game to another level, becoming the first UMass player to win the Hockey East Player of the Year award and leading the league in scoring among defencemen. He was a Hobey Baker Award finalist and won the trophy on April 12, 2019, capping a remarkable college career. Two days later, on April 14, 2019, the Avalanche signed him to a three-year, entry-level contract, officially launching his professional career.
NHL Breakthrough (2019–2021)
Makar debuted for the Avalanche on April 15, 2019, during Game 3 of the first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Calgary Flames. He scored on his first shot, becoming the first defenceman in NHL history to score a playoff goal in his league debut. The moment announced his arrival as a special talent and set the tone for what became a meteoric rise.
In his first full NHL season in 2019–20, Makar set an Avalanche franchise record with 11 goals by a rookie defenceman, surpassing John-Michael Liles, and led all rookies in scoring with 28 points in 29 games before an upper-body injury briefly slowed him. He was named a Calder Memorial Trophy finalist and ultimately won the award as the league’s top rookie. The following season, he finished second in voting for the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defenceman, behind Adam Fox of the New York Rangers.
Stanley Cup and Norris Era (2021–2023)
On July 24, 2021, Makar signed a six-year, $54 million contract extension with the Avalanche, cementing his long-term future in Colorado. During the 2021–22 season, he set a new Avalanche record for goals by a defenceman with 28, won his first James Norris Memorial Trophy, and finished eighth in Hart Trophy voting. In the 2022 playoffs, he led all Avalanche skaters with 29 points and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, becoming only the third defenceman to win both the Norris and Conn Smythe in the same season, joining Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidström.
The 2022–23 season saw Makar reach 200 career points in 195 games, the fastest pace of any NHL defenceman to that milestone, and earn his third consecutive Norris nomination. He also gained national attention for his sportsmanship when he convinced an official to rescind a tripping penalty against Mathew Barzal of the New York Islanders in December 2022, admitting he had fallen on his own. The Avalanche were upset by the Seattle Kraken in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, and Makar received his first career suspension for a hit on Jared McCann during the series.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2023–Present)
In 2023–24, Makar recorded his first career NHL hat trick on March 6, 2024, in a 7–2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings, becoming the first Avalanche defenceman to do so since Sandis Ozoliņš in 1999. He was named a Norris finalist for the fourth consecutive season, finishing first in points-per-game among defencemen. His play remained at an elite level despite Colorado’s earlier postseason exits.
The 2024–25 season marked another historic chapter, as Makar became the ninth defenceman in NHL history to score 30 goals in a season, finishing with 92 points in 80 games. He won his second Norris Trophy on June 11, 2025, receiving 176 of 191 first-place votes, and was a Ted Lindsay Award finalist. In 2025–26, he scored his 20th goal to become the first defenceman since Phil Housley to reach that mark in three straight seasons, and he recorded his 500th career point on March 28, helping Colorado win the Presidents’ Trophy.
Driving Style and Strengths
Makar is widely regarded as a dynamic, offensively gifted defenceman whose elite skating allows him to lead or join the rush with ease. He excels at creating offence from the blue line through precise passing, strong puck control, and an accurate point shot, while also contributing responsibly in his own end. His ability to read the play at high speed makes him a constant threat in transition, and he has been a fixture on Colorado’s top power play unit throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Makar’s NHL debut playoff goal in 2019, his Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022, and his back-to-back Norris Trophies in 2022 and 2025 stand as defining moments of his career. He has also represented Canada on the international stage, winning gold at the 2018 World Junior Championships, the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, and earning a silver medal and Olympic All-Star selection at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Cale Makar Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Makar is the son of Gary Makar and Laura MacGregor, and he is of Ukrainian descent on his father’s side. His father is a distant cousin of former NHL centre Tom Lysiak, linking the family to a long hockey tradition. His younger brother, Taylor Makar, signed a one-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche on March 31, 2025, after three seasons with the UMass Minutemen, and was originally drafted by the Avalanche in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. His cousin, Mark Logan, played college hockey at the Rochester Institute of Technology from 2015 to 2019.
Personal Life
Cale Makar married his longtime girlfriend, Tracy Evans, in August 2024. The couple resides in the Denver area, where Makar continues his career with the Avalanche. He remains closely connected to his Calgary roots and frequently credits his family for supporting his journey from minor hockey to the NHL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NHL season represented one of the most productive years of Cale Makar’s career, as he set a new personal best with 30 goals and finished with 92 points in 80 games. His offensive output placed him ninth in league scoring overall and made him a finalist for both the James Norris Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award. He ultimately claimed his second Norris Trophy in June 2025, reinforcing his status among the league’s elite defencemen.
Beyond individual accolades, Makar helped drive the Colorado Avalanche to another strong regular season, providing steady leadership on the blue line and anchoring the top power play unit. His partnership with Nathan MacKinnon and the rest of the core group continued to fuel one of the most potent teams in the Western Conference. Heading into the 2025–26 campaign, expectations remained high as Makar aimed to lead Colorado on another deep playoff run.
