Overview
- Joe Sakic said conversations with Makar’s camp are ongoing and that he is confident a deal will be completed before the 2026-27 season when he spoke with reporters on Sunday.
- Makar is 27 and enters the final year of a six-year contract with a $9 million average annual value; he can become an unrestricted free agent next July if no extension is reached.
- Recent blockbuster contracts and a projected NHL cap rise from $104 million in 2026-27 to about $113.5 million in 2027-28 have pushed market benchmarks higher and will affect Makar’s likely next salary.
- The new CBA that takes effect on Sept. 16 cuts the maximum term a team can give its own player from eight years to seven, creating a soft deadline that could shape whether an eight-year deal is pursued now.
- Sakic offered no update on Artturi Lehkonen’s talks and said he is not worried about coach Jared Bednar entering a contract year, and the team reports no lingering health issues while noting heavy roster commitments for 2027-28.