Cale Makar becomes fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 200 points

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar became the fastest defenseman in NHL history to reach 200 points following the Avalanche’s 3-2 victory over the Dallas Stars Monday night. Makar picked up his fifth goal of the season halfway through the first period to achieve the milestone. He hit 200 points in 195 games. Makar has 20 points in 17 games to start the season. 

Makar, who hails from Calgary, Alberta, is in his fifth season after being selected fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Draft. The same draft that saw the Stars pick Miro Heiskanen at the number three spot. Makar was a force to be reckoned with while playing for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) as a teenager, in his draft year, he registered 24 goals and 51 assists for 75 points. He would also add 16 points in the AJHL playoffs during the Bandits’ championship run. That year, Makar stacked the awards and was named the AJHL Most Outstanding Defenseman, Most Valuable Player, Playoff MVP, CJHL Player of the Year, CJHL Top Defenseman, and the Roland Mercier Trophy as the RBC Cup Most Valuable Player. He would then go on to play college hockey for UMass in the NCAA. He would continue his domination and the UMass captain was awarded the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA Top Collegiate Player. 

Makar made his NHL debut in 2019-20 and despite the season being cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he registered 50 points in 57 games and won the Calder Trophy. Now 24, he would add some more hardware to his collection after winning the Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup last season with the Avalanche. Makar recorded a whopping 86 points in 77 games last season and 29 points in 20 playoff games to help the Avs defeat the back-to-back Stanley Cup Champions, Tampa Bay Lightning.