Makar rested, ready to lead Avalanche to another Cup title

Cale Makar is rested, healed and eager to begin what he believes can be a journey to another Stanley Cup championship, just like the one he and the Colorado Avalanche had 14 months ago.

Makar, the Avalanche defenseman, is training this week at the 13th annual 2023 BioSteel NHL Camp in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with teammate Nathan MacKinnon, Edmonton Oilers forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares, and Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

But Makar's focus is on getting to Denver for training camp next month, especially considering the Avalanche were eliminated in the Western Conference First Round last season.

"I know a lot of the guys are itching to get back to camp," the 24-year-old said Tuesday. "I feel like last year that was maybe not the thing you wanted to get back to it, you wanted a little bit of time to make sure your body and mentally you could recover from the run we went on. I think a lot of the guys are itching to get back now. A lot of the guys will get in a couple weeks before camp so it should be awesome."

Makar said this offseason has been "a little bit of a grind" for him because he's been trying to overcome ailments he had at the end of last season that lingered longer than he expected.

But he also feels he's no different than many of his Avalanche teammates in that they utilized the longer-than-expected offseason, unfortunately afforded to them because of losing to the Seattle Kraken in the first round, to get into the shape they need to be going into training camp.

The Avalanche played their last game of last season April 30, losing 2-1 in Game 7 against Seattle.

They played nearly two months longer in 2021-22, winning the Stanley Cup on June 26. Makar was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he had 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists) in 20 games.

He also won the Norris Trophy as the League's best defenseman that season, with 86 points (28 goals, 58 assists) in 77 games. That's 97 games in 2021-22.

He played just 60 regular-season games, missing time because of a concussion and then a lower-body injury, and seven in the playoffs last season.

"It's a win-lose scenario, but one of the things for us as a team being unfortunately eliminated early is it gave us a little more rest time," Makar said. "For a team that was so banged up this past year and had so many man-games lost I think that was huge. I think a lot of guys really took advantage. It mentally can give us a little bit of a break and clear it; guys can reset a little bit. Everything felt like it was in super speed mode last summer, so this summer you got to slow things down a little bit and regroup yourself."

Makar also said he's a fan of everything the Avalanche did to tinker with the roster.

Colorado traded for forwards Ryan Johansen (Nashville Predators) and Ross Colton (Tampa Bay Lightning) and signed free-agent forwards Miles Wood (six years) and Jonathan Drouin (one year).

They lost forwards Evan Rodrigues (four-year contract with the Florida Panthers), Alex Newhook (traded to the Montreal Canadiens), J.T. Compher (five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings), Lars Eller (two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins) and Denis Malgin (unrestricted free agent). Defensemen Erik Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Sabres.

"I feel like we put ourselves in the best possible spot to have a chance again," Makar said. "The guys we picked up are hard-working guys that are going to be reliable every single night. I think our management did a great job of filling holes in our lineup that were definitely needed from the year prior, exposed."

He's hoping the next move by the Avalanche is to sign defenseman Devon Toews, who has one year remaining on his contract before he can become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The 29-year-old had 50 points (seven goals, 43 assists) in 80 regular-season games and nine points (one goal, eight assists) in seven playoff games last season. He had 57 points (13 goals, 44 assists) in 66 games in 2021-22 and 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in 20 playoff games during the Cup run.

"I feel like he's one of the best defensemen in the League," Makar said. "I don't know if he's underrated anymore. I have no doubt they'll get something done. You want something that works for both sides and he's a guy that definitely deserves it."

Even without Toews extended, the Avalanche have 14 players signed through at least 2024-25.

That list includes Makar, MacKinnon, Wood, Colton, forwards Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen, and defensemen Samuel Girard and Josh Manson signed for at least three more seasons. Even with captain Video: Makar attends Biosteel NHL Camp to kick off workouts set to be out for his second straight season following cartilage transplant surgery on his right knee May 10, the Avalanche championship window appears to be open for several seasons to come.

"Hopefully that window keeps extending and extending and we keep bringing in guys that can help and fill out the team," Makar said. "It's exciting to be on a team like that, to have the ability and to know you're going to have a shot at it every year. We feel that we're capable of it."