When Cale Makar danced after scoring one of the most beautiful postseason goals in franchise history for the Winnipeg Jets, he cited a moment in the scene where he felt luck was involved.
Makar set a franchise record for points by a defenseman and was on his way to finishing third in Norris Trophy voting, but he repeatedly criticized his own performance. While others see brilliance, Avalanche superstars often find that the high standards they set for themselves are not being met.
That’s part of the reason Makar rose to the top of the hockey world. It’s a combination of insatiable drive and breathtaking talent and skill.
“(Last year) I felt like I was inconsistent at times,” Makar said. “We’ve been managing different things throughout the season, but that’s no excuse. At the same time, it felt like there was a little bit of a lull, which we’ve never had before. We’ve had to focus on that side. I think there are many small things that can be improved.
“Last year, I was hard on myself a lot of times, and rightfully so. I expect a lot from myself, so I think there’s another level to me.”
Makar has finished second, first, third and third in voting for the NHL’s top defenseman the past four seasons, winning the Norris Trophy. He had already been named an NHL All-Star four times before his 26th birthday. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Stanley Cup. Provided he remains healthy, he is certain to represent Canada at the upcoming Quadrangle Tournament and the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
So what does another level look like for Makar?
“It’s interesting just to think about it,” ESPN analyst Ray Ferraro said. “Given the success he’s had and what he’s achieved both individually and as a team, it’s hard to imagine what a ‘best’ season would be like.
“He’s the best defenseman in the game. The more he plays, the more aware he gets, the more comfortable he can get. I don’t even know what the ceiling is for him. He’s a great player. I think so.”
Makar played in 77 games last season, scoring 21 goals and 90 points. Norris scored a career-high 28 goals in his winning season (2021-22). There are some statistical metrics Makar could hit that would be sacred territory for a defenseman.
Eight defensemen in NHL history have reached 30 goals in a season, but Washington’s Mike Green in 2008-09 is the only one to do so in the past 30 years. Six players have scored 100 points in a season, and once again only one (San Jose’s Erik Karlsson two years ago) has achieved the feat since the early 1990s. To accomplish both in the same season, he would be joining a club that currently has three members: Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey and Denis Potvin.
“If he stays healthy, I think this will be a triple-digit scoring year,” Avs defenseman Josh Manson said. “It’s not easy to play 27 to 30 minutes a night. He plays hard. He’s not floating. He skates fast and plays physical. He plays hard every night. We want to make a difference on both ends.”
Health has always been an important factor for Makar. He has proven to be capable of producing incredible numbers while playing less than 100 percent. Also, he has never played more than 77 games in a season.
If Makar hadn’t missed more than 20 percent of his two seasons (2020-21 and 2022-23) with injury, he likely would have added at least one more Norris to his trophy case. That’s part of the reason why Makar was sometimes critical of his own play last season.
“It was just an inconsistent aspect,” he said. “There were times when I felt like the body was ready but the execution had not yet been carried out. Then there were other times when the execution was coming but the body was not ready. , it never felt like it was going to click. There were a few times where I felt like it wasn’t going to work out, but in the playoffs it felt like it was going to work out, which was really exciting.
“I think everything has been kicked out of my feet. I think when your feet are connected to everything else, that’s when it’s fun to play. There were times last year when I didn’t have that. I feel like I want to find that this year, and it’s a big step for me.”
Nathan MacKinnon had what players might call “the year of the year” for the Avalanche last season. He played in all 82 games for the first time since the 2018-19 season. His shooting percentage (12.6%) was his highest since the 2017-18 season. All the hard work he has put in on the ice has reaped the rewards.
MacKinnon scored 51 goals and 140 points and won the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award as the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. With reasonable health and consistency, Makar will have his year at some point this decade.
“At his best, he’s doing it every night,” McKinnon said. “It’s not really about getting to another level, it’s just about doing it further. Of course you can improve, but it’s difficult to improve significantly. The easiest thing to do is to be more consistent. But it takes a lot of discipline, and I think Cale can do it because he has a lot of discipline.
“Out of 82 games, how many are really good? I’d like it to be as high as possible, but it’s certainly not 82. I’d like it to be in the 70s, or even great in the 70s, if possible. That’s the goal. , some days will be bad, and they will be bad.”
Ferraro said he thinks 30 goals will get him 100 points. Avs coach Jared Bednar said another level for Makar is to get even better in his own zone so he can spend more time on offense. The idea that that didn’t come at all in a season where Makar was still scoring 90 points should probably scare opponents.
“For me, I think that’s what drives the play every night,” Makar said. “If Nate has another great season and Mikko (Rantanen) does the same, I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t get up there. Points aren’t something I’m particularly focused on. Sometimes they’re not. Even though it looks like, you get more energy from the defensive side of the game because they push themselves and I push myself and I like to think I push them. It’s like a Ferris wheel that keeps spinning.”
Makar was already having his best season ever in terms of accomplishments. He won the Norris Cup, Conn Smythe Cup, and Stanley Cup in 2022. The only other defensemen to accomplish that are Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom, who are probably the two best players to play the position.
Orr did it twice, in 1970 and 1972, and Lidstrom had a hat trick in 2002. Will Makar be able to win the Hart Trophy like Orr did both seasons? Only one defenseman in the past 50 years has accomplished this (Chris Pronger in St. Louis in 2000).
How did Makar manage to surpass them all? Let’s think internationally.
Lidstrom did not win a medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics. Orr missed the famous 1972 Summit Series between Canada and Russia. Makar may have a chance for individual, team and international success in a single season unlike anything we’ve seen before.
“Kale has already done it. I’m not saying (2022) is going to be his best year, but Kale has already set the bar very high,” TSN analyst Craig Button said. . “He’s a unique player, and I don’t think anyone would dispute that he’s not the best defenseman on the planet. That being said, one of the things great players do is play great every year. It’s on the level.
“Kale has always been at the top of the defenseman food chain. If we were to compare it to the Olympics, the standards for high jumps don’t go up step by step. The standards for winning a gold medal go up by centimeters. But the hurdles… It doesn’t have to be measured in feet, but it’s about how he can maintain that high bar and how he can push it a little bit higher. I think that’s what Cale does.
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First Published: September 29, 2024 at 5:45am
