Colorado Avalanche phenom Cale Makar, a 20-year-old defenseman from Calgary, is having one of the wildest weeks of his life.
Makar was the fourth overall selection in the 2017 NHL Draft prior to arriving at college, but played two seasons for the UMass Minutemen, and on Friday earned the Hobey Baker Award as the top college player. Makar led UMass to the Frozen Four final on Saturday, but Minnesota Duluth shut out the Minutemen 3-0 to win a second consecutive national title.
On the very next day, the Avalanche announced that Makar had signed a three-year contract with the team, and was set to join the squad in the middle of their first-round NHL playoff series with the Flames. Makar made his NHL debut on Monday night – and promptly put the Avalanche up 3-0 with a goal in the first period. The reaction of his parents in the crowd was priceless.
Makar became just the fifth player, and the first defenseman, to score a goal in a postseason debut.
Colorado went on to win the game 6-2 and take a 2-1 advantage in the series.
