The 23-year-old defenceman had 3-7-10 totals in four games as his Colorado Avalanche swept the Nashville Predators.
“He might be the best player in the league right now,” teammate Nathan MacKinnon said after the Avalanche beat the Predators 5-3 Monday night in Nashville, advancing to the second round. “He might be one of the best (defencemen) to ever play by the end of his career, at this rate.”
Makar was announced as a finalist for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenceman on Monday — along with the Predators’ Roman Josi and the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Victor Hedman — before scoring a goal and adding two assists in the Game 4 victory over Nashville.
Makar had 28-58-86 totals during the regular season to finish second among NHL defencemen in scoring behind Josi, who had 23-73-96. Makar’s plus-48 was the second-best plus/minus among NHL defencemen behind Devon Toews, his blue-line partner with the Avalanche, who was plus-52.
