Avalanche sign Taylor Makar to one-year, entry-level contract

As if having one Makar wasn’t enough, the Colorado Avalanche now has two.

On Monday, the team announced it has signed forward Taylor Makar to a one-year, entry-level contract for the 2025-26 campaign. Makar will spend the rest of this season with the Avalanche’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, on an amateur tryout agreement.

Makar was originally taken by the Avalanche in the seventh round, 220th overall, of the 2021 NHL Draft. He is the younger brother of Norris Trophy defenseman Cale Makar. Though both played for the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, and both have been drafted by the Avs, they have played alongside one another in an organized game.

Taylor has followed Cale’s path in a few ways, outside of being a forward. Along with playing in Brooks, the younger Makar started his college career at the University of Massachusetts, where Cale made a name for himself. However, Taylor elected to transfer to Maine before his final season.

The move paid off, as Taylor’s game flourished under Ben Barr. In 38 games, the Calgary native posted career highs in goals (18), assists (12) and points (30), finishing second o the team in scoring.

Makar helped the Black Bears win the Hockey East Championship for the first time since 2004. Makar also scored two goals in the championship game against Connecticut, giving the team an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, the team’s incredible run stopped there, as Maine was eliminated by Penn State in the opening round of the Allentown Regional last Friday.

Across four seasons of college hockey, Makar scored 33 goals and 19 assists for 52 points in 123 games.

The Avalanche (45-26-3) sit third in the Central Division, 13 points back of the Winnipeg Jets for first place. The Eagles (38-18-8) are first in the AHL’s Pacific Division, sitting as the first team from the division to clinch a spot in the Calder Cup Playoffs.