Avalanche D Cale Makar becomes NHL's first $20M player in massive deal

The team announced on Friday, Aug. 28 that it signed the two-time Norris Trophy winner to an eight-year extension. His representative, Bartlett Hockey, posted that the deal is worth $163.2 million, with an annual cap hit of $20.4 million.

That will make Makar, 27, the highest-paid player in the NHL when the deal kicks in during the 2027-28 season. He's the league's first $20 million player and passes the $18.8 million average annual value in the extension signed by San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini .

The contract also blows away the $12.5 million average that former Avalanche teammate Bowen Byram, now with the Chicago Blackhawks , had received as the highest-paid defenseman.