Makar

In the first period of the Kraken's Game 4 win over the Avs, Makar delivered a late hit to Seattle forward Makar is arguably the best defenseman in the world. The 24-year-old star has a Norris Trophy, Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup to back up that claim. With Makar out of the lineup, Colorado was much more vulnerable, and Seattle took advantage of that. The Kraken have controlled play when Makar isn't on the ice, and that was the case for all three periods in Game 5. Seattle completely stifled Colorado for a 3-2 win in Ball Arena, and now the Avalanche are one loss away from going home in the first round. The good news for the Avs is that Makar was only suspended for one game, and he will be back for a do-or-die Game 6. Expect the well-rested Makar to see a lot of playing time, because there is a stark difference in Colorado's five-on-five numbers when Makar is on the ice. With Makar Without Makar Shot attempt share 61.1% 43.7% Expected goal share 58.3% 41.2% Goal differential +2 -4 *Numbers courtesy of Natural Stat Trick As evidenced in that table above, the Avalanche's depth defensemen have struggled this series, and The Kraken have the edge in this series when it comes to roster depth. They have a few different lines that can be effective, and their entire defensive corps has impressed through the first five games. Colorado has the advantage at the top of the lineup, and Makar is a big part of that. Seattle doesn't quite have anyone who can match Makar when he is at...

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) controls the puck next to Tampa Bay Lightning center Anthony Cirelli (71) during the third period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack) He’s the second defenseman in the last three years to win the Conn Smythe. Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman won the award in 2020 with the "We’ve seen him play this way from Day 1 of the season," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "This guy is elite, and with him, the job he does for us offensively and defensively, watching him play, how dynamic he is, he’s just the best defenseman in the game right now." Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche accepts the Conn Smythe trophy for Stanley Cup playoff MVP from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly after Game Six of the 2022 Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. The Avalanche defeated the Lightning four games to two. (Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Now, he can also call himself a Stanley Cup champion.

The Wraparound is your daily look at the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. We’ll break down the NHL playoff games today with the all-important television information. • The Rangers made a big statement • Canadiens goalie • Bruins blueliners • Free Agents? Trades? Colorado Avalanche defenseman He has already won the Calder Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year, has been a two-time finalist for the Norris Trophy as the league’s top defender (and finished in the top-10 all three years of his career), and is averaging more than a point-per-game in both the regular season and playoffs as a defenseman. His numbers are off the charts and he already looks like he is on track for a special career as one of the league’s elite. For all of his individual accomplishments and stats, including a dominant performance earlier this postseason in the First Round against the Nashville Predators, he might be in the middle of his most impressive performance to date through the first two games of the Western Conference Finals. In those two games he has mostly gone head-to-head with Edmonton Oilers megastar [ While McDavid did have three points in the Oilers’ 8-6 Game 1 loss, he was completely shut out — along with the rest of the Oilers — in Colorado’s 4-0 Game 2 win. When you dig deeper into the head-to-head numbers you can see how much of an impact the Makar matchup has had. In the first two games Makar has played 24 minutes against McDavid during 5-on-5 play — the most minutes against any Ed...

LOS ANGELES — The downside of a world-class defenseman logging NHL-leading minutes isn’t difficult to figure out. More ice time means more wear and tear. More opportunities to sustain injuries. The Avalanche are navigating Cale Makar’s health again as the NHL playoffs near. The defending Norris Trophy winner has missed Colorado’s last two games with a lower-body injury and didn’t skate with the team here Friday at the Kings’ facility. The Avs (47-24-6) are preparing for a back-to-back Saturday (8:30 p.m. MT) at Los Angeles and Sunday (6:30 p.m.) at Anaheim. “I would consider him day-to-day at this point,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar told The Post when asked if there’s any long-term concern. “But we’re just going to wait for him to feel good before he plays, so I don’t have a timeline.” This is the fifth time Makar has missed a string of games due to an injury this calendar year. He was out four games in January, then The team wants to be extra careful around this time of year, even in the heat of a race for the Central division title. To ask a skater to play through even a minor injury five games before the playoffs would be a risk. “I think we’re sitting in a good spot,” Bednar said, “and we’re trying to make sure it’s not something that’s going to linger.” Makar has been extraordinary when healthy. He has 66 points in 60 games, making him one of only two defensemen in the NHL to average more than a point per game. Erik Karlsson, the Norris front-runner, has 98 points in...

The It's a rare feat for Makar, who is a defenseman. He's just the third defenseman aged 23 or younger to ever win the Conn Smythe. He's the first defenseman since 2020 to win the award. That time, Not only did Makar win the Conn Smythe Trophy, but he did so in landslide fashion. Makar was a unanimous selection for the award for the first time since the PHWA began revealing votes five years ago, according to Frank Seravalli of Bally Sports. In just his third NHL season, Makar is already an elite player, and he proved it in this postseason. Using his elite skating and puck-handling ability, Makar shredded every opponent the Avalanche faced in their journey to the Stanley Cup. In Colorado's opening-round sweep of the With the Avalanche on the verge of sweeping the Against the back-to-back Stanley Cup champions, Makar recorded three multi-point games and seven points overall. That includes a two-goal performance in the Avalanche's dominant 7-0 win over the Lightning in Game 2. At the ripe old age of 23, Makar won a Norris Trophy, a Conn Smythe Trophy and a Stanley Cup all in the same season. He is the third player to accomplish that feat, joining NHL legends Bobby Orr and Nicklas Lidstrom. Makar is only getting started, and that is very bad news for the rest of the league.