The Colorado Avalanche took on the Calgary Flames in a late-season matchup. This game featured a little bit of emotion, as Nazem Kadri faced his former team for the primary time since a trade earlier in March. After the sport, though, Colorado received unlucky news regarding defenseman Cale Makar.
Makar left the sport on Monday night in the course of the second period, as noted by Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. The Avalanche rolled through the Flames without Makar, securing a 9-2 win. After the sport, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed the superstar defenseman suffered an upper-body injury. Bednar said the team will know more in regards to the injury on Tuesday.
It’s hard to overstate Makar’s importance to the Avalanche. He’s widely considered a top-two defenseman within the NHL, if not one of the best within the league outright. He’s definitely among the finest offensive defensemen within the league. Entering play Monday, Makar scored 20 goals and 72 points in 71 games.
Makar’s offensive production is a bit down from previous years. He entered the 2025-26 campaign with back-to-back 90+ point seasons, a rarity for defensemen in the trendy game. His 30-goal season in 2024-25 made him the ninth defenseman all-time to succeed in that mark. It was also just the 18th time a defenseman scored 30+ goals in a single yr.
The Avalanche are currently sitting atop the NHL on 108 points. Colorado is heading in the right direction to win the Presidents’ Trophy for the primary time since 2021. Their Stanley Cup quest, though, could take a serious hit if Makar misses prolonged time. Fans should closely monitor this example because it unfolds over the subsequent few days.
The Colorado Avalanche took on the Calgary Flames in a late-season matchup. This game featured a little bit of emotion, as Nazem Kadri faced his former team for the primary time since a trade earlier in March. After the sport, though, Colorado received unlucky news regarding defenseman Cale Makar.