"Yeah, I'll be good to go tomorrow," the defenseman said after participating in a full practice Monday.
The 24-year-old missed the last seven regular-season games with a lower-body injury, after missing nine games in a 10-game stretch from Feb. 9-March 1 with a concussion and four games from Jan. 18-24 with an upper-body injury.
"I think Cale is going to be rested," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said with a laugh. "He missed a bunch of time. He feels good. He spent some time on the ice over the last week to 10 days making sure that he's prepared and ready to go for playoffs.
"… I'd say on this one we probably played it a little bit cautious to make sure that he's ready to go come tomorrow night."
Makar said he was as close to 100 percent as he could be right now and will have to manage his body through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Sometimes you can't catch a break," Makar said. "This year was one of those years. I'll play an 82-game season at some point, I hope. Just one thing after another, just nagging, and this was one of those things that, like, especially my skating stride wasn't up to par. So, I guess, it's just going to be managing and making sure I stay on top of it."
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Makar had 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) in 77 games last season and won the Norris Trophy, voted the NHL's best defenseman. He led the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 playoff games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy, voted the playoffs' most valuable player.
Though Makar played 60 games this season, he finished ninth among defensemen in scoring with 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists). The only defenseman with more points per game than Makar (1.10) was Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks (1.23). Makar led skaters in average time on ice per game (26:23).
He has 60 points (15 goals, 45 assists) in 55 playoff games in his NHL career. The only defenseman in NHL history with more points per game in the playoffs than Makar (1.09) is Bobby Orr (1.24).
"He's the best defenseman in the League, I think, and one of the best players in the League overall," Colorado forward Mikko Rantanen said. "Dominant player, so I'm very excited that he was practicing normally today and hopefully he felt good. It's a big, big addition, obviously. You can't replace Cale Makar. That's for sure."
Josh Manson also is expected to return after missing the last 23 regular-season games with a lower-body injury, giving the Avalanche a fully healthy defense corps for the first time since early November.
"I think we still have the best [defensemen] in the League," Colorado center Nathan MacKinnon said. "I don't think it's very close. So, I think we can really control the play from our back end and use them as best we can. Obviously, we have some good players up front as well, but those guys on the back end are special."
