Cale Makar Named to NHL Second All-Star Team

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named to the 2022-23 NHL Second All-Star Team, the league announced tonight at the NHL Awards Show in Nashville, Tennessee. Makar is the first defenseman in franchise history to be named to three consecutive NHL postseason All-Star Teams.

Makar tonight finished third in voting for the 2023 James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league's top defenseman, an award won by San Jose's Erik Karlsson. Makar won the Norris last season, the first player in franchise history to do so. This is the third straight year that Cale has been named a finalist.

Makar tallied 66 points (17g/49a) in 60 games this past season, ranking second among NHL defensemen in points-per-game (1.10) behind only Karlsson (1.23). Cale's 66 points finished ninth among NHL defensemen and he was sixth in goals (17). The Calgary native led the NHL in average ice time (26:23), the first Avalanche player ever to pace the league in ice time. Makar finished tied for second among NHL defensemen with six game-winning goals and matched the NHL record for the most game-winning goals (19) by a defenseman in his first four seasons, a mark set by Dion Phaneuf from 2005-06 to 2008-09. Cale missed a total of 22 games due to separate injuries.

Makar played in NHL All-Star Game for second straight year, just the third defenseman in franchise history to participate in consecutive mid-season classics (Sandis Ozolinsh, Rob Blake). Makar recorded his 200th career point on Nov. 21 in Dallas, reaching the milestone faster than any defenseman in NHL history (195th game). He tallied his fifth career regular-season overtime goal on March 11, passing Tyson Barrie for the most OT winners by a defenseman in club history. With three assists on March 13 in Montreal, Makar recorded his 18th career 3-point game, passing Barrie (17) for the most such outings by a blueliner in Avalanche/Nordiques history. He scored his 19th career GWG on March 24 against the Coyotes, breaking a tie with Barrie (18) for the most game winners by a defenseman in franchise history.

Makar added five points (1g/4a) in six playoff contests while averaging a team-high 25:40 of ice time. He passed Ozolinsh (47) for the most career playoff assists by a defenseman in franchise history with 49 and tied Ozolinsh for the most career playoff points by a blueliner with 65.

Winner of the 2022 Conn Smythe Trophy and 2019-20 Calder Trophy, Makar has 246 career points (65g/181a), the most ever by a defenseman through 238 NHL contests. Cale is one of only three blueliners in history to average a point-per-game (1.03), along with Bobby Orr (1.39) and Paul Coffey (1.09). Makar has 65 points (16g/49a) in 61 playoff games, the second-highest points/game average (1.07) by a defenseman in NHL history behind only Orr (1.24).