NHL: Calgary Flames at Colorado Avalanche - Source: Imagn — Cale Makar praises Nathan MacKinnon's consistency after Avalanche's shootout loss to Calgary (Source: Imagn)

"He earns everything he gets": Cale Makar makes feelings known after $100,800,000 Avs teammate joins Connor McDavid and Wayne Gretzky’s elite company

Modified Apr 03, 2025 11:35 GMT

Nathan MacKinnon achieved another personal milestone in Colorado’s 3-2 shootout loss to Calgary. MacKinnon reached 110 points for the third straight season, becoming the 12th player in league history to achieve the feat and the only active player to do so alongside Connor McDavid.

MacKinnon and McDavid are the only two players with three consecutive 110-point seasons since Wayne Gretzky last managed to reach the mark in 1991-92.

In a post-game interview in the locker room on Monday, Cale Makar praised MacKinnon's work ethic amid his latest feat.

"Yeah, it's pretty incredible to see how much work he puts in, year in, year out. And he earns everything he gets. So yeah, hopefully he continues going," Cale Makar said.

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MacKinnon is signed to an eight-year, $100.8 million contract, with a cap hit of $12.6 million per season.

MacKinnon’s consistency has shone through this season, with his home point streak reaching 25 games. He assisted on Makar’s goal in the first period, but Colorado blew a 2-0 lead and lost 3-2 in a shootout.

Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was not happy with the team’s effort.

“I didn't think we played very well tonight. I didn't love our effort at times,” Bednar said (via NHL.com). “I didn’t like the defending detail at times during the game, and then we had trouble putting the puck in the net a little bit again tonight. So, not real pleased with the way we played tonight."

The loss put Colorado further behind Dallas in the Central Division standings.

Cale Makar's brother signs with the Colorado Avalanche

On Monday, the Colorado Avalanche announced the signing of Cale Makar's younger brother, Taylor, to a one-year, entry-level contract through the 2025-26 season. He will play for the Colorado Eagles (AHL) on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) for the rest of 2024-25.

Makar had a strong season at the University of Maine, registering 30 points in 38 games. He set career highs with 18 goals and 12 assists. His six game-winning goals led the team. Makar also had an eight-point streak over six games from January to February 2025. On February 28, he scored a hat trick.

Before Maine, Makar played three seasons at UMass-Amherst, where he managed 22 points in 85 games. In his final season, he led the team with 10 goals.

About the author

Abhilasha is an NHL writer at Sportskeeda. Holding a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, her interest in writing hockey was piqued after watching an NHL skills video on YouTube. The 2023 Stanley Cup Finale series between the Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers was among the most iconic games she has seen and it left an impact on her.

Her reporting strengths include covering news stories and following stars like McDavid, Matthews and Alex Ovechkin, among others.

Abhilasha is a huge fan of the Edmonton Oilers and Colorado Avalanche because of their skilled forwards, while her favorite players include Wayne Gretzky, Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Connor Bedard. For her, John Tortorella is the greatest coach ever.

Abhilasha has over 3 years of experience writing content for different products and websites, along with handling social media content for various brands. She values using credible sources when writing and likes to identify fake and false narratives.

Abhilasha’s hobbies include spiritual reading, staying updated on the latest makeup trends, fitness and exploring new destinations through travel.

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