One of the biggest offseason storylines in the NHL remains the aftermath of the Cale Makar injury. This season, the two time Norris Trophy winner suffered a significant upper body injury that forced him out of the lineup late in the regular season and into the postseason.
As had already been suggested here on Heavy, the Cale Makar injury appeared to be a separated shoulder. That type of issue could potentially sideline the Colorado Avalanche defenseman for a portion of the start of next season.
In Wednesday’s edition of the 32 Thoughts Podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman shared what he has learned regarding the expected timeline for Makar’s return. While there is still no official confirmation on the exact nature of the injury or whether surgery will be required, the current expectation is that Makar could miss some time at the beginning of the 2026 27 season.
If that proves accurate, it would be a relatively positive outcome for the Avalanche. In a worst case scenario, the Cale Makar injury could have involved something more severe such as a broken collarbone. The hit he absorbed from Calgary Flames forward Adam Klapka on March 30 was enough to keep him out for roughly two weeks.
Makar eventually returned before the end of the regular season, but he appeared to aggravate the issue again in Game 5 against the Minnesota Wild. As a result, the 27 year old missed Games 1 and 2 of the series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Friedman also clarified that he never claimed Makar would be shut down for the season, but he reiterated that the Avalanche star could still be facing a meaningful recovery timeline.
Avalanche Must Be Careful with Cale Makar Injury
At this stage, there is very little the Colorado Avalanche can do regarding the Cale Makar injury other than monitor his recovery and hope the situation is not as serious as it could have been.
Even so, the organization has to proceed cautiously. There is no benefit to rushing Makar back too quickly. While his return during the playoffs was important, the priority now should be giving the Norris Trophy level defenseman enough time to fully recover.
With next season not carrying the same condensed schedule as this one, the Avalanche would not necessarily need to navigate a large number of games without him.
Even if the Cale Makar injury lingers into November, Colorado should remain in a strong position. That would still allow them to have their top defenseman back for the most important stretch of the season.
What to read next:
Cale Makar could be dealing with a more significant injury than initially expected, according to one expert
Fans are being urged to remain patient as clarity on the Makar situation develops
One issue that has frustrated supporters is the limited information surrounding the Cale Makar injury. With recent changes in the Colorado front office, it is understandable that updates have been slow to emerge.
That situation may soon improve. With Joe Sakic now officially back in the general manager role, the team is expected to hold its end of season media availability. The Cale Makar injury will likely be a major talking point, giving the organization a chance to provide more clarity to fans.
Until then, speculation is likely to continue as more details gradually come to light.