{
  "id": 4061598,
  "title": "Avalanche Make NHL History With Massive Cale Makar Contract",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/avalanche-make-nhl-history-with-massive-cale-makar-contract",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-28T23:55:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/avalanche-make-nhl-history-with-massive-cale-makar-contract-12382611"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Colorado Avalanche have broken NHL contract records by signing defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year, $163.2 million agreement. With an average annual value of $20.4 million, the deal makes Makar the highest-paid player in league history. Avalanche President Joe Sakic hailed the 27-year-old as a \"generational defenseman\" and praised his \"great person, teammate and ambassador\" qualities. Makar, currently in the final year of his $9 million, six-year deal, will now play through the 2034-35 season. He has won two Stanley Cup titles with the Avalanche and been named the league's Most Valuable Player in 2022. Makar expressed gratitude to the franchise, the Kroenke family, the coaching staff, and his family for their support.",
  "summary": "The Colorado Avalanche signed superstar defenseman Cale Makar to a record-breaking eight-year, $163.2 million contract extension.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}