Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar has joined the exclusive ranks of NHL legends, becoming only the third defenseman in league history to record 46 or more assists in the playoffs before turning 25 years old. With Makar’s birthday in October, he still has the entire playoff run to continue building on his impressive numbers.
The Avalanche are currently locked in a tight 1-1 series with the Seattle Kraken, who are participating in their first-ever playoff series as a franchise. Makar’s 46th playoff assist places him alongside Bobby Orr, who tallied 46 assists in 50 games, and Paul Coffey, who recorded 59 assists in 77 games before reaching the age of 25. Makar achieved this milestone in just 57 games, where he also scored 15 goals for a total of 61 playoff points.
Much like Orr and Coffey, Makar has demonstrated remarkable offensive prowess, averaging over a point per game in the playoffs. His accomplishments thus far include a Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy, Calder Trophy, and a Stanley Cup win. In the current playoff run, he has registered one assist in two games.
As the Avalanche continue their pursuit of another championship, all eyes will be on Makar to see how many more assists he can rack up. Although Coffey’s record of 59 assists may be a tough target to reach, Makar’s exceptional performance during last season’s Cup-winning campaign (eight goals and 21 assists) suggests that he could be up to the challenge.
