Makar wasted no time making an impression in the NHL.

One day after signing an entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche and three days after winning the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player in NCAA ice hockey, the defenseman stepped into the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 15, 2019, and delivered.

Makar took the puck into the offensive zone and beat goalie Mike Smith at 16:02 of the first period to give the Avalanche a three-goal lead against the Calgary Flames in Game 3 of the Western Conference First Round. It was the game-winner in a 6-2 victory that helped the Avalanche take the series in five games against the team with the best record in the West. It was their first playoff series victory in 11 years. He became the seventh player and first defenseman to score a playoff goal in his NHL debut.

Makar also had an assist in Colorado's 5-1 win in Game 5, giving him two points and a plus-4 rating in his first three NHL games.

He followed that by winning the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL in 2019-20 after finishing with 50 points (12 goals, 38 assists) in 57 games. Makar also scored 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

The Calgary native committed to playing at the University of Massachusetts in 2015, two years before the Avalanche selected him No. 4 in the 2017 NHL Draft. He honored the commitment to Massachusetts for the 2017-18 season and quickly became one of the best defensemen in the NCAA, finishing with 21 points (five goals, 16 assists) and a plus-9 rating in 34 games; he also helped Canada win the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Makar came back for his sophomore season in 2018-19 and was even better, finishing with 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 41 games and powering Massachusetts to the Frozen Four for the first time, though the Minutemen lost 3-0 to Minnesota Duluth in the title game.

Makar was a finalist for the 2020-21 Norris Trophy voted as the best defenseman in the NHL, finishing second to Adam Fox of the New York Rangers. He signed a six-year contract with the Avalanche on July 24, 2021.

Makar scored his 23rd and 24th goals in Colorado's 6-3 win against the Philadelphia Flyers at Ball Arena on March 25, 2022 to pass Sandis Ozolinsh for the single-season record for goals by an Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques defenseman. His 86 points set a new Avalanche/Nordiques record for points at the position in one season, passing Steve Duchesne (82 for Quebec in 1992-93).

Makar became the first defenseman in NHL history with five points in a series-clinching game when he had a goal and four assists in a 6-5 win against the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4 of the 2022 Western Conference Final. Two skaters had more points in such a scenario: Wayne Gretzky (seven, 1985 Division Final with the Edmonton Oilers) and John Anderson (six, 1986 Division Semifinal with the Hartford Whalers).

He also tied the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record for points in a playoff game (Peter Forsberg, 1998; Risto Siltanen, 1987) and was the eighth different player in NHL history -- and first in 35 years -- to put his team into the Stanley Cup Final with a five-point showing. Makar (23 years, 219 days) is the second-youngest player to do so, following Maurice Richard (22 years, 239 days) in 1944, the first of two such performances by the "Rocket."

Makar had a historic 2021-22 season. He won the Norris Trophy and his 28 goals led NHL defensemen and set an Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques record, as did his 86 points. He's also the first Avalanche/Nordiques defenseman to win the Norris. He followed that up by helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup with 29 points (eight goals, 21 assists), and was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner voted as MVP of the playoffs.

He became the first player to win the Hobey Baker, Norris Trophy and Conn Smythe in his career. He became the third defenseman to win the Conn Smythe at age 23 or younger, after Bobby Orr of the 1970 Boston Bruins and Serge Savard of the 1969 Montreal Canadiens, and became the third player in NHL history to win the Norris and Conn Smythe in the same season, after Orr in 1970 and 1972 and Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings in 2002.

Makar followed up that season with 66 points (17 goals, 49 assists) in 60 games, his 1.10 points per game ranking second among defensemen behind Erik Karlsson's 1.23 and earning him another nomination for the Norris Trophy. He was the first Avalanche skater to lead the NHL in average ice time (26:23) and his five game-winning goals were tied with Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets for second at the position. He got his 200th point in his 195th NHL game to become the fastest defenseman in League history to reach the mark, surpassing Hockey Hall of Fame defenseman Sergei Zubov (207 games).

Makar became a Norris finalist for the fourth straight season in 2023-24. He finished second in points (90), goals (21) and assists (69) among defensemen and was first in points per game (1.17) playing 77 games. He was also first in power-play points (39) at the position, tied for first with four short-handed points and third in shots on goal (231).

After helping Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off, Makar finished 2024-25 with 92 points (30 goals, 62 assists) in 80 games, becoming the ninth defenseman in NHL history to score at least 30 goals in one season and the first since Mike Green scored 31 for the Washington Capitals in 2008-09. He was the first defenseman with back-to-back 90-point seasons since Paul Coffey (1988-89 to 1990-91) and Al MacInnis (1989-90 to 1990-91) and was voted winner of the Norris Trophy for the second time.

Makar's six points (two goals, four assists) for silver medalist Team Canada at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 tied 2026 teammate Drew Doughty (2014), Shea Weber (2010 and 2014), Dan Boyle (2010) and Duncan Keith for most by a Canada defenseman during a single tournament with NHL players. His goal that tied the United States 1-1 made him the sixth at his position to score in a gold medal game with NHL participation (Kimmo Timonen, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Rafalski and Petr Svoboda).

Makar got the secondary assist for his 500th NHL point (136 goals, 364 assists) in his 467th game, a 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on March 28, 2026. He required the fourth-fewest games to reach 500 points by a defenseman in NHL history, after Bobby Orr (396 games), Paul Coffey (422 games) and Denis Potvin (465 games). He ended the regular season third in the NHL among defensemen with 79 points (20 goals, 59 assists) and a plus-32 rating while averaging 24:51 of ice time in 75 games to become a Norris Trophy finalist for the sixth consecutive year.