How Impressive is the Run Cale Makar is on?
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Cale Makar ignited the internet and the hockey world when he simultaneously broke Kirby Dach’s ankles, undressed one of the best goalies in NHL history Marc Andre-Fleury, and dropped the jaws of everyone in attendance for his top shelf, overtime, game-winner a few nights ago. But outside of this one single goal, Makar is having one of the best seasons of all time by a defensemen, and it is somehow being overlooked by the NHL.
For us fans of the Colorado Avalanche, we have grown used to the greatness that is the 23-year old defensemen and I thought it was worth the effort to actually dive in and see how impressive the current pace Cale Makar is on for the 2021-22 season, actually is. Today, January 6th, 2022, Cale Makar has played in 25 games, he’s scored 14 goals, shelled out 14 assists, he’s got a +10 +/-, He has 11 powerplay points, four game winning goals, and is 20th in the NHL with a 19.7% scoring percentage.
His 14 goals in 25 games, marks Cale Makar 4th all time in goals through 25 games behind only Dave Elliot and Bobby Orr (2x). NHL Public relations, published the stats below.
Makar is currently 5th in the NHL in Defensemen scoring, this stat is misleading though because Makar has played in 7-10 fewer games than all four defensemen ahead of him. The Colorado Avalanche have played the fewest games in the NHL with only 29 games total, and had a huge gap from December 16th, 2021 to January 2nd, 2022 because of Covid. Cale Makar also had a minor injury early in the season which caused him to miss four games. If the Avalanche had played as many games as the rest of the NHL, Cale Makar would be leading the league in points by a defensemen. The broadcaster of the Blackhawks telecast for the Avs-Blackhawks game in which Cale ended it, use the statement “Cale Makar is simply Connor McDavid skill in a defensemen’s body”, which is the ultimate praise considering McDavid is the NHL’s #1 player and it’s almost universally acknowledged.
One thing that may go unmentioned and get lost in the offensive excellence that is Cale Makar, is the fact that he is also an amazing defender. He has toughness to drop big hits. He prowls the blueline keeping pucks in play. He is one of the best skaters on the ice, regardless of position, and this helps him navigate the blue line with ease and efficiency. He has some of the nastiest hands and routinely snaps the puck out of the air and off opponents sticks. Makar is legitimately the complete package, who also happens to be an out of this world offensive defensemen, an undeniable superstar, and future face of the NHL.
As the rest of the season plays out, barring injury or any major pandemic related stoppages, the Colorado Avalanche have a serious chance to get the Franchise’s third Stanley Cup. Today, the team has one of the best constructed rosters in the NHL with blue chip talent top to bottom. As Cale Makar continues to dazzle the hockey world, we as fans can continue to champion him as the eventual James Norris Memorial Trophy winner, but his numbers will likely speak for themselves.
After the Colorado Avalanche started 4-5-1, the team has gotten healthy and been on an absolute blistering pace going 15-3-1 in the last 19 games. This team is in no-nonsense mode and it appears they have the size, toughness, skill, leadership and motivation to take this thing all the way to the finals. 29 games into an 82-game season is a little early to crown them, but the product we are seeing on the ice is somehow different then what we have seen the last two seasons. This current iteration of the Colorado Avalanche has an edge and more fight than finesse.
Cale Makar’s 2022 season is starting off on historic pace, let’s hope he can keep it up, stay healthy, and set some all time records for an NHL and Colorado Defensemen, while helping lead this roster the a Stanley Cup hoisting!
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