The best defenseman in hockey earns like it. Cale Makar locked in a fully guaranteed $54 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche — and at just 27, he is already approaching $60 million in career NHL earnings.
This article breaks down his full financial picture, from his current salary and endorsement deals to his estimated net worth in 2026.
Cale Makar’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cale Douglas Makar |
| Date of Birth | October 30, 1998 |
| Age | 27 |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Height / Weight | 6’0″ (183 cm) / 187 lbs (85 kg) |
| Position | Defenseman |
| Current NHL Team | Colorado Avalanche |
| NHL Draft | 4th overall, 2017 NHL Entry Draft |
| Years Active | 2019 – Present |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$22 million |
| Current Salary | $8.7 million (2025–26 season) |
| Career Earnings | ~$52.4 million (through 2025–26) |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Tracy Evans (married August 17, 2024) |
| @calemakar8 |
Early Life and Hockey Journey
Cale Douglas Makar was born on October 30, 1998, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He grew up in a family with deep hockey roots — his younger brother Taylor Makar also pursued the sport professionally, playing at the NCAA level.
Makar started skating at age eight and quickly showed exceptional ability. He first developed his skills with the Crowchild Blackhawks minor hockey program in Calgary before moving up through the Northwest Calgary Athletic Association ranks.
He caught the attention of scouts at a young age and eventually joined the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). His two seasons in the AJHL set the stage for a nationally recognized college career.
Makar enrolled at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he played for the UMass Minutemen under coach Greg Carvel.
In his sophomore year, the 2018–19 season, he won the Hobey Baker Award — the most prestigious individual honor in NCAA Division I men’s hockey — while leading UMass to a remarkable Frozen Four run.
He majored in Sports Management at UMass, and rather than spend more time in college, he signed with the Colorado Avalanche immediately after the Minutemen’s NCAA tournament exit in April 2019. That decision proved historic.
Career
Makar made his NHL debut on April 15, 2019 — directly from his last college game — in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Calgary Flames.
He scored a goal in that debut, becoming the first defenseman in franchise history to do so in his first NHL game.
He played his first full season in 2019–20 and immediately won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL’s best rookie — a sign of things to come.
In the 2021–22 season, Makar reached every peak the sport has to offer. He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy as the league’s best defenseman, the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, and helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup. That season, he posted 86 points in 77 games — a stunning total for a defender.
After an injury-shortened 2022–23 campaign, Makar rebounded in 2023–24 with a career-high 90 points in 77 games, leading all NHL defensemen in scoring. He also led all blueliners with 39 power-play points that season, per RotoWire.
In the 2024–25 season, Makar won his second Norris Trophy, cementing his place as the most dominant defenseman of his generation.
He also won gold with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 and earned a silver medal representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
As of the 2025–26 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Makar has accumulated 507 career regular-season points, one of the fastest point totals ever for an NHL defenseman.
Wife
Cale Makar married Tracy Evans on August 17, 2024, in a Western-themed ceremony held in a mountain locale in the Colorado area.
Tracy Evans is a substitute teacher and physical education instructor originally from Calgary, Alberta — the same city where Makar grew up.
The couple met and built a relationship over several years before their wedding. Tracy told UCHealth that her students rarely knew she was dating one of hockey’s biggest stars. She keeps a private Instagram account under @tracyevans_.
Makar’s younger brother Taylor Makar has also pursued hockey, playing at the NCAA level. No children have been publicly confirmed as of 2026.
Cale Makar’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Cale Makar has an estimated net worth of approximately $22 million.
He built this through a fully guaranteed NHL contract, endorsement partnerships, and career earnings approaching $60 million gross. After federal and provincial taxes on Canadian-American income, along with living expenses and financial management, a realistic net figure lands around the $22 million mark.
Contract
Makar’s current deal with the Colorado Avalanche is a 6-year, $54 million contract — fully guaranteed, per Spotrac. The deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $9 million.
The contract runs through the 2026–27 season, after which Makar becomes an unrestricted free agent.
Given that the NHL salary cap is projected to jump to as high as $104 million in 2026–27 — with a maximum single-player AAV of $20.8 million, according to insider Elliotte Friedman — Makar’s next contract is expected to be one of the richest in NHL history.
With the Avalanche holding a record of 51-14-10 with Makar in the lineup during the 2025–26 regular season, Colorado has every reason to lock him up long-term.
Salary
Makar’s 2025–26 base salary is $8.7 million, with a cap hit of $9 million. In 2026–27, the final year of his current deal, his base salary drops to $6.7 million while his cap hit stays at $9 million — a structure common in high-value NHL contracts.
At $9 million AAV, Makar ranks among the highest-paid defensemen in the NHL. He is on pace to command a salary well above $15 million on his next contract, based on the rising salary cap and his status as the sport’s best defensive player.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season | Team | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$925,000 |
| 2020–21 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$925,000 |
| 2021–22 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$9,000,000 |
| 2022–23 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$9,000,000 |
| 2023–24 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$9,000,000 |
| 2024–25 | Colorado Avalanche | ~$9,000,000 |
| 2025–26 | Colorado Avalanche | $8,700,000 |
| Career Total | ~$52.4 million |
Endorsements and Sponsorships
Makar’s most prominent endorsement is with Under Armour, which officially signed him in late 2025.
The partnership makes Makar one of the brand’s featured hockey athletes, and his profile gained additional global exposure following Canada’s performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The deal with Under Armour places Makar in elite company as one of the brand’s marquee team-sport athletes.
While the financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed publicly, comparable NHL star endorsement agreements in the performance apparel space typically range from $500,000 to $2 million annually depending on usage rights and campaign scope.
Ramos Law, an Avalanche-connected sponsor, has also been publicly associated with Makar’s name during the 2025–26 playoff season.
Makar’s quiet professionalism and elite on-ice profile make him an increasingly attractive endorsement target heading into his next contract year.
His international exposure after the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off gold medal and the 2026 Winter Olympic silver medal has widened his appeal beyond the North American market.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Colorado Avalanche | 57 | 12 | 26 | 38 | +8 |
| 2020–21 | Colorado Avalanche | 44 | 8 | 28 | 36 | +15 |
| 2021–22 | Colorado Avalanche | 77 | 28 | 58 | 86 | +48 |
| 2022–23 | Colorado Avalanche | 60 | 17 | 49 | 66 | +5 |
| 2023–24 | Colorado Avalanche | 77 | 21 | 69 | 90 | +38 |
| 2024–25 | Colorado Avalanche | — | 20 | 59 | 79 | — |
| Career Totals | ~315+ | 136 | ~371 | 507 | — |
FAQs
What is Cale Makar’s net worth?
Cale Makar’s estimated net worth is approximately $22 million. He accumulated this through his $54 million NHL contract, Under Armour endorsement deal, and other sponsorship income since his 2019 NHL debut.
How much does Cale Makar earn per year?
Makar earns $8.7 million in base salary during the 2025–26 season, with a cap hit of $9 million per year. His 6-year, $54 million contract with the Colorado Avalanche is fully guaranteed.
What endorsement deals does Cale Makar have?
Makar signed with Under Armour as a brand athlete in late 2025. The deal makes him one of the apparel giant’s featured hockey ambassadors. He also has other regional and league-related sponsor associations through the Avalanche.
How many Norris Trophies has Cale Makar won?
Makar has won the Norris Trophy twice — in 2021–22 and 2024–25. He also won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2022 and the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2019–20, making him one of the most decorated active defensemen in NHL history.
When does Cale Makar’s NHL contract expire?
Makar’s current 6-year, $54 million contract expires after the 2026–27 season, at which point he will become an unrestricted free agent. With the salary cap expected to rise significantly, his next contract is projected to be one of the largest in league history for a defenseman.
