The NHL salary cap landscape just shifted, and it's not a player on the ice who caused the tremor — it's a teenager who hasn't even played a full season. Macklin Celebrini's record-setting extension with the San Jose Sharks has sent shockwaves through the league, and the ripple effect is already being felt in Denver, where Cale Makar's next contract just got a whole lot more complicated.

The Celebrini Bombshell

Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, signed an extension that shattered previous benchmarks for entry-level players. While the exact figures weren't disclosed in the initial reports, the deal is widely considered the most lucrative of its kind in NHL history, resetting the market for young stars before they've even reached their prime.

This isn't just a win for the Sharks — it's a signal to every team with a superstar on the horizon. For the Colorado Avalanche, that signal is aimed squarely at Cale Makar, whose current contract expires in 2027 and who will be eligible for an extension as early as next summer.

What It Means for Makar

Makar is widely regarded as the best defenseman in the world, a Norris Trophy winner and Conn Smythe recipient who has redefined the position with his offensive flair and defensive reliability. His next deal was always going to be massive, but Celebrini's extension has now provided a concrete benchmark for what a generational talent can command.

While Celebrini is a forward and Makar is a blueliner, the comparison is inevitable. If a player with Celebrini's resume — which, while impressive, lacks a Norris or a Stanley Cup — can secure a record payday, then Makar's camp will certainly point to that as a floor, not a ceiling.

The Avalanche's Salary Cap Puzzle

Colorado has been here before. They managed to keep Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Makar together by making smart, team-friendly deals — MacKinnon's $12.6 million AAV is a bargain for his production, and Rantanen's $9.25 million deal is similarly team-friendly. But the era of discounts may be ending.

The Avalanche have roughly $20 million in cap space projected for the 2027-28 season, but that number could shrink quickly with raises for other key players. Locking in Makar at a number that exceeds Celebrini's would eat up a significant chunk of that space, potentially forcing Colorado to make tough decisions elsewhere on the roster.

The Market Reset

Celebrini's deal doesn't just affect Makar — it resets the entire defenseman market. Players like Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, and Rasmus Dahlin, who are all in the same tier as Makar, will see their next contracts negotiated with Celebrini's numbers in mind. That could lead to a domino effect across the league, with general managers scrambling to lock up their stars before the asking price climbs even higher.

For Colorado, the pressure is on to get a deal done before the market inflates further. But Makar's agent will likely point to Celebrini and say, 'If he's worth that, my client is worth more.'

What Makar's Next Deal Could Look Like

While we can't predict the exact figure, we can make educated guesses based on comparable contracts and the new benchmark. Celebrini's extension is reported to be in the range of $15 million to $16 million per year, which would make him the highest-paid player in the league, surpassing MacKinnon's $12.6 million AAV.

For Makar, a defenseman who is arguably more valuable to his team than any other player in the league, a contract in the $14 million to $15 million AAV range seems plausible. That would make him the highest-paid defenseman in NHL history, a title he likely deserves.

The Timing Factor

One thing working in Colorado's favor is timing. Makar is signed through 2027, and the cap is expected to rise significantly by then, thanks to new TV deals and expansion revenue. If the cap jumps to $100 million or more, a $15 million AAV might not be as crippling as it sounds today.

But the longer Colorado waits, the more leverage Makar's camp gains. Celebrini's deal is now the floor, and any delay could see that floor rise even higher.

Key Takeaways

  • Celebrini's extension resets the market for young superstars, and Makar's next deal will be directly compared to it.
  • Makar is the best defenseman in the world and will command a record-breaking contract, likely exceeding $14 million AAV.
  • Colorado's cap situation will be tested, but rising cap ceilings may soften the blow.
  • The domino effect will impact other elite defensemen like Hughes, Fox, and Dahlin, who will all use Celebrini's deal as leverage.
  • Expect negotiations to heat up as soon as Makar is eligible for an extension, likely in 2026.

The Celebrini contract has changed the game, and Cale Makar is next in line to cash in. Whether Colorado can keep their core intact remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the salary cap era has a new benchmark, and it's going to cost a pretty penny.