Cale Makar can change the feel of a playoff series before puck drop. That is why his latest update lands so hard.
The Colorado Avalanche will open the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights without their top defenseman, and the team now has to handle a major test.
The Big Update From Colorado
NHL.com reported that Makar will not play in Game 1 at Ball Arena on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET because of an undisclosed injury. Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said Makar is day-to-day.
Jack Ahcan is set to replace him in the lineup. The report also noted that Makar was on the ice before Colorado’s morning skate, so the team has not given a long-term timeline.
That matters because this is not a regular missing piece. Makar has not missed a playoff game this postseason until now.
Through nine playoff games, he has five points, with four goals and one assist, plus 22 shots on goal and 18 blocked shots. He has also averaged 24:59 of ice time, second on the team behind Devon Toews.
Why One Missing Defenseman Changes So Much
Makar is not just a defenseman who starts plays from the back. He is one of the few players in hockey who can push the pace, defend tough minutes, run the power play, and still make a game feel open for Colorado’s forwards.
His regular season says plenty. NHL announced earlier this month that Makar finished third among defensemen in scoring with 79 points, made up of 20 goals and 59 assists, in 75 games. He also averaged 24:51 of ice time and finished plus-32.
Those numbers explain why his absence is bigger than a lineup change. Colorado loses a player who can carry the puck through pressure, join the rush at the right time, and make the first pass that turns defense into attack.
It also places more strain on the rest of the defense, especially against a Vegas team that has the depth to keep shifts heavy.
The Ahcan Moment Arrives Fast
Jack Ahcan gets a hard assignment right away. Stepping into a conference final is never a soft landing, and stepping in for Makar is one of the hardest jobs on the roster.
The Avalanche does have some help coming. NHL.com reported that Sam Malinski and Artturi Lehkonen practiced, and Bednar said both would be ready to play after missing the final two games of Colorado’s five-game series win against Minnesota.
Malinski has been useful in the playoffs, with three points in seven games, and he played all 82 regular-season games.
That gives Colorado more options, but it does not make the Makar loss small. It gives the Avalanche a better chance to spread the work and keep the game under control.
Makar’s Norris Case Still Stands Tall
This injury update also arrives during another award-level season for Makar. He is a Norris Trophy finalist for the sixth season in a row and is already a two-time winner, taking the award in 2021-22 and 2024-25.
NHL Public Relations also noted that he became the first defenseman in 34 years to post three straight 20-goal seasons.
That kind of record is why his name keeps staying near the top of hockey talk. Makar’s value is not built on one hot week or one playoff run.
It is built on years of elite play, huge minutes, and the trust Colorado gives him in almost every key moment.
What Comes Next For The Avalanche
Colorado enters the series with plenty of strength. The Avalanche won the Presidents’ Trophy after a 55-16-11 regular season, then beat Los Angeles in four games and Minnesota in five.
Vegas also arrives with confidence after winning the Pacific Division and reaching the Western Conference Final for the first time since its 2023 Stanley Cup run.
Game 1 now becomes a test of Colorado’s depth and structure. Makar’s status is day-to-day, so the story is not finished.
For now, the Avalanche have to open a huge series without their most dynamic defenseman, and every shift will show how much they can cover until he returns.
