Avalanche’s Cale Makar to Miss Tonight’s Game as First-Child Arrival Nears

Colorado’s top blueliner will sit out for personal reasons, with a team spokesman confirming he and his wife, Tracy, are awaiting the birth of their first child.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will miss tonight’s game as he and his wife, Tracy, await the arrival of their first child, a team spokesman confirmed. The update means Colorado will have to adjust its defensive pairings and in-game matchups without one of its most impactful drivers from the blue line.

Makar’s absence is a notable one for a club that relies on his combination of skating, puck-moving, and two-way responsibility. Over the past several seasons, he has been a central piece of Colorado’s transition game, often turning defensive zone recoveries into zone entries and sustained offensive pressure.

The team’s announcement frames the decision as strictly tied to the timing of the birth, with Makar expected to be available after the immediate family situation is resolved. That matters for the Avalanche’s planning in a league where defensive minutes and specific pair roles can affect matchups late in games, especially against top-line opponents.

From a roster-management standpoint, Colorado will likely reshuffle minutes among its remaining defensemen to cover Makar’s workload. Even when the team has capable options on the depth chart, replacing a player with Makar’s reach and decision-making speed can change how quickly Colorado resets after defensive stops and how aggressively it can push into the offensive zone.

For fans, the main question will be how quickly the Avalanche can stabilize their five-on-five structure without him. The team will also be watching for how long Makar is held out, since the NHL schedule compresses changes and requires rapid chemistry in any new defensive alignment.

For the bigger picture, Makar’s next availability will be tied to the timing of the childbirth, not hockey operations. Beyond tonight, Colorado’s coaching staff will have the practical task of maintaining rhythm in defensive roles so that when Makar returns, the team can integrate him without losing the momentum built during his absence.

Why It Matters

Makar is a core part of Colorado’s defensive identity and puck-moving offense, so his absence affects both matchups and transition play.
Colorado will need to adjust defensive pairings and minutes on short notice, which can ripple into late-game situations.
How the Avalanche responds tonight offers a quick test of depth and in-game structure without its top blueliner.

Sources

Key Facts

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar will miss tonight’s game.
A team spokesman confirmed the reason is personal, as Makar and his wife Tracy are nearing the birth of their first child.
The announcement was reported by Yahoo Sports on October 13, 2026.