Avalanche star Cale Makar becomes unlikely villain after hit on Kraken’s Jared McCann
Seattle Kraken left wing Jared McCann lays stunned on the ice after taking a hit from Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar during the first period. Makar would get a two-minute interference penalty. (Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times)Less
Makar, among the top handful of defensemen in the league, is far more likely to go viral for his gravity-defying edgework than his goonery, and his trophy case is more impressive than his rap sheet — which is nonexistent. He hasn’t been fined or suspended at the NHL level.
He famously talked a referee out of awarding his team a power play in December because he wasn’t tripped — he just fell. He is usually the picture of team-first humility and seems almost embarrassed by all the attention he gets.
Makar is the defending Norris Trophy winner, awarded “to the defense player who demonstrates throughout the season the greatest all-around ability in the position.” He’s also the 2022 Conn Smythe winner, or playoff MVP, as a crucial part of the Avalanche’s Stanley Cup championship run last spring.
He became the first player booed for breathing in the Kraken’s home arena. About 8:20 into Game 4, McCann, the Kraken’s regular-season leader in goals (40) and short-handed goals (3), cruised in looking for another scoring chance on the penalty kill with Makar hot on his heels. Colorado goaltender Alexandar Georgiev deflected the puck high and out of play. McCann watched its trajectory and slowed down, facing forward and in a vulnerable position as he came around the curve of the boards.
“I know he got the shot off. And then I was just assuming he was going to the corner, because it was coming down. So I didn’t really look,” he said. “And then, yeah, just unfortunate how it happened.”
Makar twisted and shoved McCann into the glass. McCann’s head appeared to be part of the initial contact with the boards. McCann fell on his back, then crouched on his hands and knees.
“It’s unfortunate. I never want to injure guys. Hopefully he’s all right,” Makar said. “At the end of the day, I didn’t feel like I tried to finish him that hard. But, I mean, I feel like if I was in that scenario they would have done the exact same thing.
“So I’m not trying to hurt anybody. It’s just unfortunate. Tough bounce. And they got the call right. That’s all you can ask for.”
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