Following the Colorado Avalanche’s first home loss since January 22, the front office made a key signing, as Nathan MacKinnon and the team welcome the brother of a Stanley Cup champion—and one of the lineup’s biggest stars.
The Avalanche are looking to get back to their winning ways at Ball Arena when they host the Calgary Flames on March 31, following a back-breaking defeat to the St. Louis Blues.
MacKinnon will likely be a force to be reckoned with against the visiting Flames, as the star centerman continues his dominant form on home ice. He boasts a 24-game point streak at Ball Arena, where he hasn’t been held scoreless since December 1st—during a 4-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. It’s no wonder he leads the league in scoring with 109 points, tied with Nikita Kucherov.
As the Avs gear up for the Flames, the front office announced the signing of Stanley Cup champion and Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar’s younger brother, Taylor, to a one-year entry-level contract into the NHL. Due to league regulations, 24-year-old Makar cannot sign any contract longer than a one-year deal.
Cale Makar of the University of Massachusetts and winner of the 2019 Hobey Baker Memorial Award looks on during the award ceremony at the Harbor Center on April 12, 2019 in Buffalo, New York.
Makar’s heartbreak to dream come true
Taylor Makar was selected by the Avalanche with their seventh-round pick in the 2021 NHL entry Draft, four years after his older brother Cale was taken by the same franchise, but as a fourth overall selection.
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After three years at UMass—Cale’s alma mater—at the collegiate level, Taylor transferred to the University of Maine, where he had his best season during the 2024-25 NCAA campaign. Makar tallied 30 points (18 goals, 12 assists) in 38 games, helping the Black Bears reach the NCAA Tournament before they were eliminated by Penn State in the Regional Semifinals.
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Makar is headed to the AHL
Though Makar signed his ELC with the Avs, his one-year contract starts running during the 2025-26 season, as he will sign an amateur tryout contract (ATO) with the AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, where he’ll spend the rest of this season.
