Makar Sets Franchise Record with Most Points by a Defenseman

And so it continues.
Cale Makar's record-shattering season continued on Monday night as the 23-year-old blueliner established a new Colorado Avalanche franchise record for the most points by a defenseman in a single campaign as he registered an assist to reach 83 points (26G, 57A). In doing so, Makar surpassed (Quebec Nordiques) Steve Duchesne's 82 points that was accomplished during Colorado's 1992-93 season.

And while it's an impressive achievement given some of the hefty company Makar passed on that list like Ray Bourque and Rob Blake, Makar's reaction - in his postgame interview following Colorado's 3-2 loss to Washington - embodied his humble and selfless nature.
"It's not something I think about too much, but this one I'm honored to get to this mark," Makar said sitting alongside 20-year-old defenseman Bowen Byram. "Hopefully, the guy beside me has the ability to challenge it when he gets a full season here."

Makar's on-ice play certainly speaks for itself as he's seemingly singlehandedly redefined the criteria and ability of what it means to be an offensive defenseman.
His steady production throughout the course of his three-year NHL career has featured an unprecedented scoring clip of 177 points (46G, 131A) through 173 games, the most ever by an NHL defenseman through that span. He's also joins some elite Hockey Hall of Fame company as he is just one of four blueliners in history to average a point-per-game in their career - with a minimum of 100 games played - joining Bobby Orr (1.39), Harry Cameron (1.10) and Paul Coffey (1.09).
Makar's historic season has deservedly put him in the forefront of the James Memorial Norris Trophy conversation - which is awarded annually to the NHL's top "defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-round ability in the position - and in a tight race with Nashville's captain Roman Josi.
And while Makar's offensive production, elite skating and astute vision are signature strengths in his superb skill set, his detailed development in his overall two-way game, physicality, and emergence as a leader among Colorado's veteran and determined squad are equally impressive in comparison to his extraordinary point totals.

"You look at his numbers and he's as dangerous as any forward in the league," Avalanche Head Coach Jared Bednar said of Makar. "He is for me the guy [for the Norris]. Partly, because of what he's added to his game now with us. The offensive dynamic player that you see every night, obviously that was there from the start, but he's just been improving."
Since breaking into the league - fresh off winning the Hobey Baker Award and suffering a Frozen Four exit with the University of Massachusett-Amherst right out of college hockey in 2019 - and already compiling impressive accolades like being named the 2020 Calder Memorial Trophy winner and being named to the 2021 First All-Star Team and attending the 2022 All-Star Weekend, Makar has improved all facets of his game.
In Colorado's riveting 7-4 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday night, Makar took some by surprise when he laid an assertive hit on Canes captain Jordan Staal along the boards late in the playoff-like battle between the top-five ranked clubs. And while, physicality isn't a trait that might immediately be associated with Makar, it's one he's deftly implemented increasingly into his game. By utilizing his 5-foot-11, 187-pound frame, Makar currently ranks ninth among Colorado's roster with 85 hits this season.
"We see it regularly," Bednar said. "He's hard to play against because he's so quick and so strong, so smart and has the skill. He'll shut you down in different ways. He strips guys of the puck, which a lot of defenseman are able to do, but then he's able to grab it and get up the ice where he's leading the rush or setting up the rush and joining after. That's where his ability really comes in. but he does have the ability to play physical. He doesn't have to all the time because his anticipation is so good and he's so quick to close on guys that he can often just strip them and go."

When continuing to dissect the criteria for Norris-caliber recipients, Bednar cited examples of past Norris winners including Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman (2018), explaining the overwhelming completeness to their all-around game, not just the enticing offensive uptick.
With the Avalanche, Makar has embraced a larger workload of more minutes on a nightly basis - where he leads the team with an average ice time of 25:36 minutes per night and ranks second to Devon Toews (plus-52) with a plus-48 rating - including embracing a role in more defensive scenarios. In doing so, Makar is a utility knife for the coaching staff and has gained more trust to be deployed in various circumstances that arise over the course of a game.
"I think you've got to be a reliable guy who is able to play against the other team's top guys every night and take on those defensive responsibilities," Bednar continued. "Which now Cale does all of that, right? It's the growth of his game… He's a strong penalty killer for us. He plays in all situations. He's on late in the game when we don't have a lead, he's on late in the game when we're defending a lead. That's the sort of thing that you've got to have on a nightly basis to be considered for the Norris."
Off the ice, Makar's poise and level-headed nature has a rippling effect at times, despite being the third youngest on the team. For a good portion of the season, Makar has been appointed alternate captain and donned an 'A' on his jersey at times when Colorado has faced absences among its leadership group in captain Gabriel Landeskog and alternates Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen.

"He's a pretty quiet guy, but when he speaks the whole room listens," Makar's d-partner Devon Toews said of him. "His offensive play, his on ice play speaks for itself. We all notice that, see it and love it. He's just calm, cool and collected. There's no ups and downs in his emotions or his personality. It's just straight to the point, it's businesslike. It's something that we need a little bit once in a while. We have a light hearted room, but when things get tough sometimes you need that stern voice."
Despite Makar's record campaign and individual accomplishments, he is focused on the team's success. With the regular season winding down to just six remaining games and having already clinched the team's fifth-straight berth to the Stanley Cup Playoffs - including the added bonus of claiming the top seed in the Western Conference - preparing and fine-tuning for a hopeful postseason run is all that Makar and the Avalanche are concentrating on.
"We know what we have to do," Makar said. Just stressing defensive habits every single day. Just minimizing those opportunities that we give other teams."