Colorado Avalanche star Cale Makar is dealing with a lower-body injury and unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp, coach Jared Bednar said Wednesday at the team’s media day.
This is a different injury for Makar, who was dealing with a shoulder issue during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Bednar said. He’s been skating on his own at Family Sports Center recently. Bednar said the injury has popped up recently, but he still expects the two-time Norris Trophy winner to be “full go” at some point during camp.
“Cale’s dealing with a lower-body injury that he’s been working through,” Bednar said. “He’s been on the ice, but he’s probably been on a little bit of a lighter program than most of our guys coming into main camp. We’ll see how that sorts out.
“Whether he’s ready to go Day 1 of training camp is unlikely, just kind of playing it safe. But at some point in camp, he’ll be full go. I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about at this point.”
The Avs begin training camp Thursday at Family Sports. The first preseason game is Sunday against Utah at Ball Arena and the regular-season opener is Sept. 30 at home against Los Angeles.
Makar, who signed an eight-year, $163.2 million contract late last month, missed the first two games of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights and was not at 100% for the final two contests in the stunning sweep.
The 27-year-old Makar finished second in the Norris voting last season after collecting 20 goals and 79 points in 75 games. He’s been a finalist for the award five times in his first six years, a feat that only Bobby Orr has also accomplished.
“I think someone like Cale deserves that money,” Avs star Nathan MacKinnon said. “We’ll never find (someone like) him ever again. I think he’s the best D-man of all time and he’s going to play his whole career here, which is awesome.”
Bednar also noted that goaltender Trent Miner is dealing with an injury and could miss the start of camp. Miner has been the club’s No. 3 goaltender and lead guy with the Colorado Eagles for the past two seasons, but top prospect Ilya Nabokov has arrived after being one of the top goalies in the KHL and is expected to compete with Miner both in Loveland and for call-ups if and when the Avs need a goaltender.
