Colorado’s Makar named finalist for NHL rookie-of-the-year award

As expected, Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was named a finalist Wednesday for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Makar, who leads all rookies in points-per-game (0.88), is the favorite to become the Avs’ fourth Calder winner, following Chris Drury (1999), Gabe Landeskog (2012) and Nathan MacKinnon (2014).

Avalanche legend Peter Forsberg also won the Calder in 1995, months before the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver.

The other 2020 finalists are Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes and Blackhawks left wing Dominik Kubalik. The award is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association.

The winner will be revealed during the conference finals of the upcoming 24-team Stanley Cup playoffs, which will be played without fans in Edmonton and Toronto.

On an NHL Zoom call Wednesday afternoon, Makar was asked if he has found the time to call family friend Bill Hay in Calgary. Hay, 84, won the Calder Trophy in 1960 after his first season with the Chicago Blackhawks. He became president and CEO of the Calgary Flames in 1991 before serving as chairman of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. In 2015, Hay was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the builder category.

Hay and Makar’s father, Gary, remain close friends.

“I haven’t had a chance to speak to him since today, but when I was back in Calgary during the break and my dad and I gave him a call,” Cale said of Hay. “It’s a pretty cool connection that my dad has there with him. Obviously, he’s a great human being and any time you can talk to a legend like that it’s a pretty incredible experience. I’m sure I’ll touch base with him down the line. I hope he’s doing well back in Calgary.”

Makar is Colorado’s secondleading scorer with 50 points in 57 games. Only three other rookie defensemen in NHL history — each enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame — have averaged as many points-per-game in at least 50 games-played: Brian Leetch (1.04 in 1988-89 with the Rangers), Larry Murphy (0.95 in 1980-81 with the Kings) and Al MacInnis (0.88 in 1983-84 with the Flames).

Makar, 21, won the 2019 Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player. He helped lead the University of Massachusetts to the NCAA championship game — a 3-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth — before signing with the Avs and making his NHL debut in the Stanley Cup playoffs.