Avalanche’s Cale Makar becomes third-fastest defenseman to reach 400 points in NHL history

Cale Makar is only 26 years old, but he continues to leave a mark on the NHL record books.

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman became the third-fastest blueliner in NHL history to reach the 400-point mark on Sunday against the St. Louis Blues.

The only two defenders to reach the 400-point mark faster than Makar are Hockey Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (333 games) and Paul Coffey (359 games).

Makar reached the milestone after assisting on a Devon Toews goal midway through the first period, one that was originally credited to Makar before being corrected by officials.

Makar now has 22 goals and 42 assists for 64 points in 59 games with the Avalanche this season, leading all NHL defenders in scoring and second on the team in points behind forward Nathan MacKinnon.

Makar is riding high on success this week after helping Canada defeat the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off final last week, his first taste of “best-on-best” hockey on the international stage.

Now in his sixth full NHL season, Makar has 108 goals and 292 assists for 400 points in 374 career regular-season games. Taken No. 4 overall by the Avalanche in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Makar was a key contributor to the 2021-22 Avalanche squad that won its third Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. That season, he won both the Norris Trophy for the league’s best defender and the Conn Smythe Trophy for the Stanley Cup Playoff’s Most Valuable Player.