Ladies and gentlemen… THE NHL HAS OFFICIALLY LOST ITS DAMN MIND!

Cale Makar just agreed to an eight-year extension with the Colorado Avalanche worth $20.4 MILLION A YEAR!

Let me say that again because I don’t think everybody heard me…

TWENTY. POINT. FOUR. MILLION. DOLLARS. A YEAR!

Cale Makar is now the highest-paid player in NHL history.

And apparently Colorado looked at the contract and said:

“Yeah… screw it. We got the money!”

This dude is making so much money that if Makar drops his wallet on the ice, the entire Avalanche organization is going to form a search party.

And here’s the crazy part…

He’s the FIRST PLAYER IN NHL HISTORY to make at least $20 million per season.

The salary cap says the maximum somebody could make based on the percentage is around $20.8 million.

So basically, Cale Makar looked at the NHL salary structure and said:

“I’m not taking the bus to $20 million. I’m taking the express train.”

And listen, before somebody says, “Errol, you’re crazy. He’s worth it!”

I KNOW!

I’m not saying Cale Makar isn’t worth the money.

This guy has been a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenseman for SIX STRAIGHT SEASONS.

He’s won the Norris TWICE, most recently in 2025.

He’s 27 years old.

He’s entering his prime.

And he’s one of the biggest reasons Colorado is consistently sitting at the table when the Stanley Cup conversation starts.

So I’m not questioning the PLAYER.

I’m questioning what the Avalanche front office was drinking when they signed the check!

Because Makar was making $9 million a year on his current contract.

NINE MILLION!

And apparently Colorado said:

“You know what? That’s cute. Let’s double it and then throw another $2.4 million on top.”

WHAT?!

This is what happens when the salary cap starts exploding.

We’ve already seen monster contracts this summer with guys like Macklin Celebrini and Leo Carlsson.

Now Makar has basically taken the NHL salary market, put it in a blender, and hit PURÉE.

And I LOVE IT!

Because this is what happens when you’re THAT GOOD.

You don’t negotiate anymore.

You walk into the room and your agent says:

“How much do you want?”

And you say:

“Whatever makes the other defensemen cry.”

But here’s the pressure that comes with this kind of money.

When you’re making $20.4 million a year, you don’t get to have a bad Tuesday.

You don’t get to have an ugly stretch.

You don’t get to turn the puck over and say, “We’ll get ’em next time.”

NO!

For $20.4 MILLION, I want you defending like the gates of Fort Knox!

If somebody gets past you, I want you chasing that guy into the parking lot!

Because that’s the difference between making $9 million and making $20.4 million.

At $9 million, people say:

“He’s having a rough night.”

At $20.4 million:

“GET THE CHECKBOOK BACK!”

But seriously, this is a massive deal for Colorado.

The Avalanche are perennial Stanley Cup contenders, they won the Presidents’ Trophy last season, and Makar is the centerpiece of that entire operation.

Colorado basically said:

“We’re not rebuilding. We’re not resetting. We’re not starting over. We’re keeping Cale Makar and everybody else can figure it out.”

And I respect it.

Because if you have a superstar, you PAY THE MAN.

The NHL just entered a new financial era.

And Cale Makar is standing at the front of the line holding a $20.4 million check saying:

“WHO’S NEXT?”

But I’m telling you right now…

The next time somebody tells me defensemen don’t get paid like superstars, I’m going to send them Cale Makar’s bank statement.

$20.4 MILLION A YEAR.

Apparently, defense wins championships…

AND NOW IT PAYS LIKE A QUARTERBACK!