Cale Makar made NHL history on Thursday night in Columbus, and the league’s official PR account on X highlighted the milestone right away. In the Avalanche’s 7–3 win over the Blue Jackets, Makar scored his 30th goal of the season and added two assists, becoming only the fifth defenseman in NHL history to record a 30-goal, 60-assist season.
The NHL commemorated the achievement with a social media post featuring Makar holding a puck marked with white tape reading “30th goal.” The post read: “Cale Makar had three points for the @Avalanche tonight, reaching the 30-goal and 60-assist mark in the process.”
Makar’s standout performance not only set a personal milestone but also helped Colorado clinch a playoff spot for the eighth straight year as they prepare for another strong postseason push. The NHL also listed the elite company Makar joined: Bobby Orr (five times), Denis Potvin (three), Ray Bourque (once), and Paul Coffey (four times), with Coffey being the last to achieve it in 1988–89.
Makar’s 30th goal came during a second-period power play, assisted by Nathan MacKinnon. With 90 points on the season, he ties his career high from last year and becomes the first defenseman since the early ’90s (Paul Coffey and Al MacInnis) to record back-to-back 90-point seasons. He’s also the first blueliner to score 30 goals in a season since Mike Green did it in 2009 and only the ninth to ever do so.
Makar is currently the frontrunner for the Norris Trophy, with -1800 odds according to Vegas Insider, and he’s expected to play a major role in the Avalanche’s quest for their second Stanley Cup in four seasons.
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