Sakic 'Pretty Confident' Makar Deal Gets Done

DENVER (AP) — Joe Sakic was back in the goal-scoring business Sunday night in an alumni game that featured some of his Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche teammates. Just a few shifts for old time's sake as the Hall of Fame forward turned front office executive was paired on a line with Peter Forsberg and Milan Hejduk. He scored early off a pass from Hejduk.

Now, it's back to the deal-making business for Sakic with training camp around the corner. Sakic's trying to wrap up a contract extension that will keep Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the league's top defenseman, in Denver well into the future. Makar is coming off a season in which he had 20 goals and 59 assists.

"We continue talking," Sakic said before taking the ice against the University of Denver alumni at Magness Arena. "I'm pretty confident that he'll be signed before the season starts."

There have already been some big contracts signed this offseason, including Bowen Byram's $75 million, six-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks that's set to make him the highest paid defenseman.

"Really? I haven't noticed that," Sakic cracked about the contracts and how it might affect the market for Makar. "Like I said, I'm not worried about it. I don't think Cale's worried about it. Dialog's been great and when there's an agreement, we'll gladly announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp."

Sakic also had no updates on contract talks with coach Jared Bednar, who's entering his final year. The Avalanche are coming off a season in which they had the best record in hockey before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Bednar, the franchise's all-time leader in wins, led Colorado to a Stanley Cup title in 2022.

"Everything's great. Not worried about that," Sakic said. "There's been coaches, there's been players that have gone into their last year of their deals before, and there's going to be i" (The full quote was truncated in the original text.)

Contract Background and Deadline

Makar, 27, is in the final year of a six-year contract that pays him $9 million per season. He is now eligible for a contract extension, with some speculating he could sign for a number close to, or beyond, the current $18 million salary of Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson.

Under the new NHL CBA beginning September 16, the maximum extension length for pending free agents drops from 8 years to 7 years. Makar cannot sign an 8-year extension after September 16 (last day for an eight-year pact is September 15). Sakic said he is not worried about the extension deadline and does not think Cale is worried about it.

"Not worried about it, and I don’t think Cale’s worried about it," Sakic said about that deadline. "Dialogue has been great, and when there’s an agreement we’ll gladly announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp."

Makar's 507 points since his NHL debut on April 15, 2019 lead all NHL defensemen in that span. For comparison, Quinn Hughes (482), Roman Josi (431), and Adam Fox (422) are the only other defensemen in the league who have scored at least 400 points since Makar joined Colorado.

Large offseason signings such as Leo Carlsson, Macklin Celebrini, Jason Robertson, Connor Bedard, and Trevor Zegras are influencing the market price for Makar. Sakic isn't naive about the current trend, and neither is Makar's camp. The right term and price will be found in conjunction with how deals are being done.

"Everyone is projecting where the cap is going. That’s why you’re seeing these contracts go to a certain level. Everyone wants to lock up their young stars, and that’s what’s happening," Sakic said.

Other Roster Moves

Colorado also needs to re-sign forward Artturi Lehkonen and head coach Jared Bednar. Lehkonen, 31, had 21 goals and 48 points in 70 games last season, but was injured during the second round of the 2026 playoffs and did not have his typical postseason impact after returning in the conference finals against Vegas. Sakic said he had no update on Lehkonen or Bednar and is not concerned about those situations.

Bednar is entering his 11th season as Avalanche coach and is the second-longest tenured coach in the NHL behind Tampa Bay's Jon Cooper. There have been calls to fire Bednar from outside the organization after stunning postseason endings each of the past two seasons, but management and ownership have stood firm in its support of the coach both times.

"Everything's great," Sakic said of his relationship with Bednar (quote truncated in original).

The Avalanche have made other moves this offseason. They traded Valeri Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets for draft picks, freeing up a $6.125 million cap hit over the remaining four seasons of his contract — savings that could help fund a Makar extension. They also traded Ross Colton and Jack Drury for salary-cap flexibility, re-signed defensemen Brent Burns and Brett Kulak, and signed free agent Jaden Schwartz to a three-year, $9.75 million deal. According to Puck Pedia, the Avalanche have $404,159 in cap space.

Alumni Game and Franchise Notes

The alumni teams took a moment to remember Claude Lemieux, who died in May at age 60. Lemieux was part of the Avalanche's Stanley Cup teams in 1995-96 and 2000-01. Sakic, who took over as GM again after Chris MacFarland left for the Nashville Predators, said the Avalanche like the roster and have a good enough team to compete for the Stanley Cup.

The Avalanche won the Presidents' Trophy with a franchise-record 121 points last season before being swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Makar is expected to sign the largest contract in franchise history, and Sakic has said in the past that Makar could end his career in Denver.

Peter Forsberg praised Sakic's return: "Everything Joe touches goes well," Forsberg said. "I'm really happy to see him back."