Cale Makar deflects not only shots but any mention of milestones related to him.
It's just the nature of the Colorado Avalanche's dynamic defenceman. He's not a big spotlight person even if he constantly finds himself in the limelight.
Makar accomplished his latest milestone Saturday when the Canadian scored his 100th career goal in his 362nd career NHL game. By doing so, he became the fifth-fastest defenceman since 1943-44 to reach that particular mark. The only blue liners speedier are Hall of Famers Bobby Orr (299 games), Paul Coffey (300), Ray Bourque (329) and Denis Potvin (348).
In typical Makar fashion, he downplayed the impending achievement.
"I guess just another thing along the way," Makar modestly said two days before reaching the 100-goal mark. "I don't really look at [milestones] like that. I wish it would come and go."
That's OK. His teammates will gladly do the boasting for the 26-year-old from Calgary, Alta., who is the top point-producing defenceman (15 goals, 37 assists) in the league this season.
"You kind of forget how special he actually is," said forward Mikko Rantanen, who has played alongside the defenceman since Makar broke into the league during the playoffs in 2018-19 and followed it up by winning the Calder Trophy the next season. "He's one of the best [defenceman] ever to play the game."
With 101 career goals — he scored twice Saturday — and 287 assists, Makar is averaging 1.07 points a game. Should he keep up that pace, it would rank up there with the likes of Orr (1.39) and Coffey (1.09) for the highest marks over a career by a defenceman in NHL history.
"I'm a little biased, but you're watching one of the best defencemen that's ever played the game," coach Jared Bednar said of Makar, the
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