Holiday Flurries: Makar named first star of the week

Your daily dose of Avalanche news and holiday cheer.

It’s the holiday break for the Colorado Avalanche but that doesn’t mean that they are forgotten. The NHL chose to recognize Cale Makar as first star of the week.

Per the NHL’s media release:

Makar led the NHL with 2-6—8 in four appearances to lift the Avalanche (21-15-0, 42 points) into third place in the Central Division via a 3-1-0 week. He assisted on Colorado’s lone goal in a 3-1 loss to the Vancouver Canucks Dec. 16. Makar then registered two points in each of his next two contests, picking up a pair of power-play helpers in a 4-2 comeback victory over the San Jose Sharks Dec. 19 before notching 1-1—2 (including his 23rd career game-winning goal) in another 4-2 comeback triumph – this time versus the Anaheim Ducks Dec. 20. He capped the week with 1-2—3, his 34th career three-point performance and third of the campaign (also 1-2—3 Oct. 16 vs. BOS and Oct. 20 at SJS), as the Avalanche earned their third straight come-from-behind win with a 5-2 victory against the Seattle Kraken Dec. 22. The 26-year-old Makar, the 2021-22 James Norris Memorial Trophy winner as well as a finalist for each of the past four seasons, tops NHL defensemen in goals (t-11), assists (34), points (45), power-play goals (6), power-play points (19) and game-winning goals (t-3) through 36 total outings in 2024-25.

• Don’t miss out on the holiday ugly sweater outtakes from September.

• Hear from the latest player to make his NHL debut this season with the Avalanche, Jere Innala.

• Don’t forget the World Junior Championship kicks off on Boxing Day. Team USA takes on Germany at 12:30 p.m. MT. Later on at 5:30 p.m. MT Colorado’s own Calum Ritchie and Team Canada match up against Finland. Ritchie had a successful exhibition slate producing five assists as the top line center.