Taylor Makar hoping to follow brother Cale to NHL with Avalanche

DENVER --Taylor Makar already has the name recognition to one day make it in the NHL, but the Colorado Avalanche forward prospect and younger brother of Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar also has a firm understanding of what he needs to do to continue to develop toward that goal.

"I'd obviously like to get stronger, bigger, sort of focus in on more of a role, and then obviously play pro hockey at some point in my life," the 22-year-old said during Colorado's development camp earlier this month. "But I've got a lot of work to do, so I just try and make every step worth it this way."

The younger Makar (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) saw an increased role as a sophomore at the University of Massachusetts last season, and with that came increased production. He had 12 points (10 goals, two assists) in 32 games after scoring one goal in 17 games as a freshman.

"It was a bit of a slow start for him last year in the fall, and then he had a great second half," Avalanche director of player development Brian Willsie said. "Finished, I think, leading the team in goals and penalty minutes (54). Played that power forward role, which we were looking for.

"He knows what he is. So he's already ahead of the game in role acceptance. So that's a big thing, and now that he's got that, he's just going to keep refining that and growing."

Some of that success is due to his familiarity with Hockey East and some is thanks to UMass coach Greg Carvel, who has helped shape Taylor Makar's game.

"He does a really good job at individually working with every single player," Taylor Makar said of Carvel. "We always watch clips with our coaches after every single game, even practices, and he'll personally come up to you and say, 'Hey, let's work on this after practice.'

"So throughout my last two years there, it's been a lot of help. Working down low, kind of getting that muscle on me, getting stronger, stuff like that. Those coaches play a huge role in that."

The younger Makar also has a bit of a familial blueprint to follow; Cale Makar played two seasons under Carvel at UMass before joining the Avalanche in 2019-20, when he won the Calder Trophy voted as NHL rookie of the year, and went on to an unforgettable season in 2021-22, when he won the Norris Trophy, voted as the top defenseman in the NHL, the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy, voted as MVP of the playoffs.

The Makars have other family ties to the NHL; each is a cousin of Tom Lysiak, who played 13 seasons in the NHL from 1973-86.

Though the brothers play different positions, there are similarities Taylor Makar can pull from.

"He started as a smaller guy," he said of Cale Makar, "and that's one thing that's great about college, I think. Every single day you're in the gym, and then you play on weekends.

"I was one of those guys too, [small] not in height but just like, size. So I still need to fill out, and I think that's a big part of college hockey for me is getting in the weight room and stuff like that."

The elder Makar serves as quite the example for Taylor Makar, both in his preparation and his willingness to share his insight with his sibling.

"He's so serious about the game," Taylor Makar said. "He just loves to learn and get better. So I think that's a huge thing, having him as my brother I just learn off that.

"We're always in touch. We're watching clips together. We're always learning. He's a great resource to have, and even other teammates that he has, I like to reach out to [them]. So it's great."