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DENVER, COLORADO - JANUARY 21: Taylor Makar #16 of the Colorado Avalanche skates against the Anaheim Ducks at Ball Arena on January 21, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) | NHLI via Getty Images
On the day qualifying offers were due to Restricted Free Agents, the Colorado Avalanche bypassed the process by inking Taylor Makar to a two-year contract extension beginning the 2026-27 season with a $875k cap hit at the NHL level.
This is a nice deal for the younger Makar after only one year of pro hockey under his belt, with 24 points scored in 52 games and 12 games of call-up time in the NHL. No doubt holding arbitration rights gave the left wing some important leverage. The $300k guaranteed in year one of the deal is a significant raise on the $80k paid in the minors on his Entry Level Contract. The most significant portion of the extension is the bump up to $900k on a one-way deal in the 2027-28 season and is a sizable investment by the Avalanche. Once this deal expires Makar will be 27-years-old and an Unrestricted Free Agent.
In other Restricted Free Agent news, reports are forward Daniil Gushchin did not receive a qualifying offer after his one-year stint with the organization. It’s safe to assume that after the Avalanche traded for another winger in Fabian Lysell that he was extended a qualifying offer. With no arbitration rights afforded to Lysell there isn’t a firm deadline to get him under contract but it likely won’t be a difficult negotiation.
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