Cale Makar officially became the first player in the salary cap era to cross the $20 million mark, signing an insane 8-year extension worth a whopping $20.4 million AAV with the Colorado Avalanche. Yeah, you read that right: $20.4 million per year! But get this, the dollar amount isn’t even the wildest part of this monster deal. This contract is a straight-up statement about the future of the NHL, and it’s got a clause that should make every owner and GM sit up and pay attention.
Why Makar’s Deal Is More Than Just Big Money
This isn’t just about a star player getting paid, it’s about how the Avs are thinking way down the road. Take a look at the contract structure: Years 1 through 3 are set with a $4 million base salary and a massive $16.8 million signing bonus. But then Year 4, which is 2030, suddenly shifts to a $12.8 million base salary and an $8 million signing bonus. That’s a huge flip, right? Then it mostly reverts back to the previous pattern for Years 5-8. There’s a reason for that specific Year 4 change, and it’s a big one. The NHLPA and NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement ends in 2030. The Avalanche clearly negotiated in a risk control here, protecting themselves against whatever changes might come with a new CBA. It’s a savvy move that tells you owners are already thinking about how to handle star players earning over $20 million a season in a potentially new landscape. This is a glimpse into a new era where teams are already looking at risk control for future agreements.
The Off-Season Is Basically Over, Let’s Go!
While Makar’s deal is shaking things up, the rest of the league is getting ready to drop the puck. We’re one month out from opening night on September 29th, but hockey action is already starting. Leafs prospects are out there right now playing in a U20 Five Nations tournament over in Europe. Shoutout to Måns Gudmundsson, drafted 76th by the Maple Leafs in 2026, who notched the 1-0 goal for them against Switzerland. That’s how you make an early impression! Players are also going to start hitting the ice for informal skates before training camp officially kicks off. It’s almost back to hockey, and we’re ready for it. Speaking of old hockey stories, remember that throwback article about how a beer boycott caused the NHL and WHA merger? Pretty wild stuff. The Leafs even have their own “Curse of the WHA.” Oh, and a New Jersey Devils prospect, Mikhail Yegorov, a goaltender, just launched his own website tracking his career stats in insane detail. That’s some dedication!
Bad News For Toronto Commuters
For all the folks heading into downtown Toronto for Leafs or Marlies games this fall, Metrolinx dropped some pretty rough news. They quietly uploaded new train schedules last Friday night, set to start September 5th. You know what a Friday night news dump with no PR announcement usually means? Bad news. Weekend service on Lakeshore West is getting slashed, with 15-minute service between Union Station and Oakville cut to every 30 minutes. And if you’re on the Barrie and Stoufville lines, forget it, weekend train service is almost completely eliminated. That’s a brutal hit for fans trying to catch games.
The NHL season is right around the corner. Get ready, because it looks like it’s going to be a wild one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pension Plan Puppets.
Leave a Reply