Colorado Avalanche president and general manager Joe Sakic hopes to lock up Cale Makar on a long-term deal this offseason.
"Cale's going to finish his career here," Sakic said at a press conference Thursday, per Denver Sports 104.3's Will Petersen. "We already talked to his agent, so we're confident that something's going to get worked out at some point. He's got another year, but this summer, we expect to have him signed."
Makar is eligible to sign an extension as of July 1. He'll play out the final year of his current contract with a $9-million cap hit in 2026-27.
The 27-year-old is likely to become the highest-paid defenseman in the NHL on his next deal. Pittsburgh Penguins veteran Erik Karlsson has long held that title, as his contract has an average annual value of $11.5 million.
Makar was runner-up for the Norris Trophy this season, marking the sixth time in seven campaigns he's been nominated for the award. He won it in 2022 and 2025, and his resume also features a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy, and five All-Star nominations.
Makar's registered 507 points in 470 career games, which puts him third in points per game by a defenseman (1.07) in NHL history. He trails only Bobby Orr (1.39) and Paul Coffey (1.08).
The Avalanche are projected to have over $37 million in cap space in 2027-28, which would be the first season of Makar's new deal.
