Scribe Suggests There’s a World In Which Avalanche Trade Cale Makar

It would be seemingly unthinkable that the Colorado Avalanche would be open to trading superstar defenseman Cale Makar. But, as one scribe points out, stranger things in the NHL have happened, and the Avs are a team known for making drastic moves.

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Editing contributor for Mile High Hockey, Adrian Hernandez writes:

“Listen, I spent months saying, “there’s no way they don’t sign Mikko Rantanen,” and we saw how that worked out. Now I’m not suggesting the Avs will trade Cale Makar, but I have learned that these deals aren’t a slam dunk anymore. Cale has all the leverage and yet the org has been open about “We expect him to be reasonable.” That is a dangerous conflict. Someone has to give in.”

He adds that September 15th is a key date for both parties as that’s the deadline for teams to sign unrestricted free agents or pending UFAs to eight-year deals. After that, the maximum is seven. Hernandez adds, “If that comes and goes, that’s already Cale using his leverage. I’m pretty much expecting 5 x $20AAV at this point. I would love to be wrong.”

When asked why Hernandez wouldn’t believe Joe Sakic when he said that Makar would finish his career in Colorado, the scribe responded, “I don’t believe that’s up to Mr. Sakic at the end of the day. Unless he’s willing to pay!” Makar may be different, but the Avalanche weren’t willing to pay for Rantanen.

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The key thing Hernandez seems to point out that few would have considered is a possible trade. While he admits it feels unlikely, he isn’t ruling it out. Suggesting this deal is not a slam dunk and perhaps teasing that another team would be open to giving him the max on an AAV means that anything is possible.

Pointing out that the Rantanen trade was a shock when it happened, no one in Colorado (including Rantanen) saw that one coming. The reality is, Makar doesn’t hold trade protection and his $9 million AAV is extremely attractive given what he does on the ice. Teams would look at him as an expensive rental, or they’d be willing to give up an arm and a leg to sign him if a sign-and-trade were part of the equation.

Born in Calgary, Alberta, it’s not clear whether he would want to play for any team other than Colorado. But if he were open to it, NHL clubs would be lining up. That would include teams in Alberta, like the Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers. It would also include the Toronto Maple Leafs, who were in on Zach Werenski, among others.

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