Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar etched his name in NHL history Thursday night in Columbus, achieving a remarkable milestone. After scoring his 30th goal of the season and adding two assists in a 7–3 victory over the Blue Jackets, Makar became only the fifth defenseman in league history to record a 30-goal, 60-assist season. The NHL’s PR team promptly acknowledged his achievement on X, sharing a photo of Makar holding a commemorative puck labeled “30th goal” with the historic caption: “Cale Makar had three points for the @Avalanche tonight, reaching the 30-goal and 60-assist mark in the process.”
In addition to his personal success, Makar’s performance helped the Avalanche secure a playoff spot for the eighth straight year, positioning them for another potential deep postseason run. The NHL also took the opportunity to highlight the other legends who had previously accomplished this feat, including Bobby Orr (who did it five times), Denis Potvin (three times), Ray Bourque (once), and Paul Coffey (four times), with Coffey being the last defenseman to do so in the 1988-89 season until Makar matched him.
Makar’s 30th goal came on the power play late in the second period, courtesy of a pass from Nathan MacKinnon. With the goal and assists, Makar now has 90 points, matching his career high from the previous season and becoming the first defenseman since Coffey and Al MacInnis in the early ’90s to record back-to-back 90-point seasons. He is also the first defenseman to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green in 2009, and just the ninth defenseman in NHL history to reach that milestone.
Looking ahead, Makar’s impressive performance puts him in strong contention for his second Norris Trophy, with Vegas insiders listing him as the favorite with -1800 odds. As the Avalanche gear up for another playoff push, Makar’s historic season could be a key factor in their pursuit of a second Stanley Cup championship in four years.
