Cale Makar made NHL history on Thursday night
It would be an understatement to say that all is not going according to plan this early in the season for the team that is seen as the heavy favorite to win the Stanley Cup by analysts, the Colorado Avalanche. With a record of three wins and four losses in seven games, Jared Bednar's team is languishing in sixth place in its division, mainly due to the slow start of several of its best players.
Nathan MacKinnon still has only one goal in five games, while newcomer Darcy Kuemper is slow to make his presence felt in front of the net. Defensively, young Cale Makar has a mediocre -10 rating despite six points.
On the bright side, however, Makar has shown time and time again just how talented he is offensively. With a goal and an assist on Thursday night against the Blues, Makar became only the sixth defenseman to score 100 or more points in his first 108 career games in the modern era of hockey.
The other five defensemen on the list were all inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame at the end of their careers. While it's far too early to predict that the Avalanche's number 8 will do the same, it's safe to say that he's off to a great start.
In addition to his breathtaking regular season stats, the 2017 first-round draft pick (4th overall) has also already amassed 31 points, including seven goals, in 35 playoff games and has even earned a Norris Trophy in his second full season in the Bettman circuit.
Already among the league's elite at his position, all he needs to do is work a little on the defensive side of his game to definitely be considered a contender for the top defenseman in the world.
