My Cale Makar point projection for the 2026-27 NHL season is 24 goals, 64 assists and 88 points in 78 games. That forecast puts the Colorado Avalanche superstar back within striking distance of 90 points without assuming he must immediately repeat his record-setting 30-goal season.
Makar finished 2025-26 with 20 goals and 59 assists for 79 points in 75 games, ranking third among NHL defensemen. He also averaged 24:51 of ice time and finished plus-32, so the underlying Fantasy Hockey profile remained elite even though his point total dropped from the previous two seasons.
The reason I expect a rebound is simple: his role did not shrink. Makar still quarterbacks Colorado’s first power-play unit, attacks like a fourth forward and plays behind an offense led by Nathan MacKinnon and Martin Necas. He produced 92 points in 2024-25 and 90 in 2023-24, proving that a point-per-game floor can quickly become a 90-point ceiling when his shot and power-play conversion rise. For fantasy managers, the question is not whether Makar remains an elite defenseman. It is whether you should draft him like a top-10 overall skater again.
Cale Makar Fantasy Hockey Projection for the 2026-27 NHL Season
My projection model gives the most weight to Makar’s most recent season while still accounting for his exceptional production in the two years before it. I weighted his 2025-26 results at 50 percent, his 2024-25 season at 30 percent and his 2023-24 season at 20 percent.
That calculation produced an initial baseline of approximately 86 points over 78 games. I then applied a modest two-point offensive-context adjustment because Makar should continue receiving first-unit power-play opportunities with MacKinnon, Necas and a rotating collection of finishers that could include Gabriel Landeskog, Valeri Nichushkin and Brock Nelson.
Cale Makar 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Projection
| Season | Games | Goals | Assists | Points | Points Per Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 77 | 21 | 69 | 90 | 1.17 |
| 2024-25 | 80 | 30 | 62 | 92 | 1.15 |
| 2025-26 | 75 | 20 | 59 | 79 | 1.05 |
| 2026-27 Projection | 78 | 24 | 64 | 88 | 1.13 |
Projection methodology: This forecast uses Cale Makar’s production over the previous three seasons, a 78-game expectation, continued first-unit power-play usage and the Colorado Avalanche’s elite offensive environment.
Cale Makar Career NHL Stats
| Type | GP | G | A | P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 470 | 136 | 371 | 507 | 168 |
| Playoffs | 90 | 26 | 64 | 90 | 28 |
Why Cale Makar Can Push Back Toward 90 Points
The most encouraging part of Makar’s 2025-26 season was that his offensive involvement remained unmistakable. He continued to play close to 25 minutes per night and was trusted in every important situation. His late-season upper-body injury cost him time, but the Avalanche indicated during the regular season that it was not expected to threaten his playoff availability.
Colorado’s power play also offers room for improvement. The Avalanche possessed elite offensive talent, but their power play was described as less effective than expected during the season. There were signs of a turnaround, including a 27.1 percent success rate from March 1 through early April. A full season of cleaner entries, quicker puck movement and better finishing around Makar could add several assists to his final total.
From my perspective, Makar’s goal production will determine whether he lands closer to 82 points or pushes beyond 90. His 30-goal performance in 2024-25 was extraordinary and included a career-high 12 power-play goals. I am not projecting another 30-goal season, but 24 goals is realistic for a defenseman who regularly activates below the circles and owns one of the most deceptive wrist shots from the point.
His assist projection is more stable. MacKinnon remains one of hockey’s premier transition players, while Necas gives Colorado another dangerous puck carrier and one-timer option. Makar does not need to manufacture every scoring chance himself. He needs to move the puck into the hands of elite finishers and then find open ice when opposing penalty killers collapse.
Where Should Fantasy Managers Draft Cale Makar?
I would still rank Makar as the first defenseman selected in most standard Fantasy Hockey formats. The scarcity advantage matters. A fantasy manager can find productive forwards several rounds into a draft, but very few defensemen offer a legitimate chance to score 85 to 95 points while contributing strong shot totals, power-play production and an excellent plus-minus.
The safest approach is to view Makar as a late first-round or early second-round target, depending on league size and scoring settings. Managers in formats that heavily reward goals, shots and power-play points can justify taking him earlier. His combination of category coverage and positional dominance gives him a weekly advantage that extends beyond his raw point total.
Final 2026-27 Cale Makar prediction: 24 goals, 64 assists and 88 points in 78 games. There is some injury-related risk because of the minutes he plays, but a healthier season and a more efficient Colorado power play would give him a legitimate opportunity to surpass 90 points again.
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