Tag: Cale Makar

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NHL drops the hammer on Avalanche D Cale Makar

Sports.MyNorthwest.com

If the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche are to re-take the lead in their Round 1 postseason series against the Seattle Kraken, they’ll have to do so without their most valuable member of the blue line. 

Defenseman Cale Makar has been suspended by the National Hockey League Department of Player Safety for the upcoming Game 5 of the series as punishment for his blatant interference on Kraken forward Jared McCann during the 1st period of last night’s Game 4 at Climate Pledge Arena.

For those who may not have seen it, here is the play in question. Makar chased McCann into the corner following the latter’s breakaway attempt and crushed him into the boards. McCann was injured and did not return to the game, and will not be playing in Game 5.

The Avalanche are already without the services of Russian forward Valeri  Nichushkin for potentially the remainder of the 2023 postseason due to a personal issue stemming from an alleged incident at the team hotel in Seattle. 

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Avalanche D Cale Makar facing discipline from NHL

NHL.com

It was an exciting night in the Emerald City last night, as the second-year Seattle Kraken earned their first ever playoff overtime victory with a thrilling 3-2 triumph over the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. Jordan Eberle’s power-play goal shortly into the extra session pushed Seattle over the top, enabling them to tie their series at two games apiece and setting up a best of 3. 

However, there was one play over the course of the game that garnered extra scrutiny, and could result in punishment for an Avalanche superstar.

Defenseman Cale Makar absolutely trucked Kraken forward Jared McCann into the boards during the 1st period with the puck nowhere nearby, and the latter was clearly shaken up. He would go right to the dressing room and did not return to action; according to head coach David Hakstol, he won’t be available to play in Game 5. 

Meanwhile, Makar could be facing discipline from the NHL, as he will be facing a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

Makar would explain that he didn’t know where the puck was, and thought McCann was heading into the corner to retrieve it.

“I didn’t feel like I tried to finish him that far,” Makar said of the hit. “I feel like if I was in that scenario they would have done the exact same thing. I’m not trying to hurt anybody.”

What should Makar’s punishment be? 

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Avalanche release awful update on Cale Makar

Colorado Hockey Now

It goes without saying that Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is without a doubt the top young blue liner in the National Hockey League today, and he has the personal accolades to prove it. Not only is he the reigning Norris Trophy winner as the top defenseman in the National Hockey League, but he’s also the reining Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the Most Valuable Player in the 2022 Stanley Cup postseason that saw Colorado achieve ultimate glory for the first time in 21 years. 

If the Avalanche have any reasonable shot at repeating as champions, Makar’s presence will be integral. But right now, he’s on the shelf with an injury – and according to the team, there’s no clear timetable for a potential return to action with the postseason right on deck.

Makar, who has already missed 10 games this season due to a concussion, did not play in his team’s 6-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks and isn’t expected to play against the Los Angeles Kings tonight. Meanwhile, veteran forward Darren Helm is also sidelined with a lower body injury; there’s no timetable for his return to the lineup either. 

With 66 points in the 60 games that Makar has been healthy enough to play in this season for the defending champion Avalanche, he’s over a point per game player.