Free agency in 2027 has the chance to be one of the best classes we have ever seen. With the likes of Sidney Crosby, Quinn Hughes and Nikita Kucherov all set to become free agents at the end of the 2026–27 season, those are all huge names. The outcomes of them signing elsewhere could be something to keep an eye on. However, there will be one name that will dominate the headlines if he makes it to free agency.
Calgary’s born and raised, Cale Makar.
With an already Hall of Fame resume to his name, he is, arguably, one of the best defencemen to ever play. And he is still not even close to the end of his prime. He has become the definition of generational since entering the league back in 2019.
Now, there has already been speculation that Makar and the Avalanche will most likely get a deal done this summer to keep him in Avalanche colours for the rest of his career. But what if a deal never gets done? And a bigger what if: what if the Avalanche, who have gone all in, fail at hoisting a Stanley Cup next season? Could things change on the Makar front? Could he be looking for a new challenge? We don’t know, but if he is looking to make a change in his career, the Calgary Flames could make a strong case for him to join them when the market opens just over a year from now.
The homecoming story
Professional athletes often talk about the dream of playing for their hometown team. For Makar, that team is the Calgary Flames.
Born and raised in Calgary, Alberta, Makar grew up in the city before becoming one of the greatest defencemen of his generation. His Alberta roots have remained a defining part of his story throughout his career.
Imagine the impact of a Calgary kid returning home in his prime to lead the Flames back into Stanley Cup contention. Scotia Place would instantly become one of hockey’s most electric environments. Becoming the Face of Hockey in Alberta. While Makar is already a superstar, signing with Calgary would elevate him to another level.
Would Makar leave the Avalanche?
The question would really become: why would Makar leave the Avalanche? It doesn’t really make much sense when you think about it. Nathan MacKinnon still has plenty of years left of being one of the very best players on the planet. There is great depth on the team. The leadership group, managed by Joe Sakic and Chris MacFarland, hits home runs in bringing in new blood. They aren’t getting any younger, however. This might have been the year for the Avalanche to win with the all-in moves of Nazem Kadri and Nic Roy. This seemed to be the year that they had to win.
Now, I’m not saying that they won’t win next season. The odds of this team falling off a cliff are probably slim to none. They are still stacked with talent. A MacKinnon who is going to be as motivated as ever to win again won’t be pleasant for the rest of the league.
But what if the Avalanche don’t win next season? What if it is another embarrassing defeat in the playoffs? Things could change. With Makar already achieving everything there is to do with one team, could he take the plunge and decide that it is time for another challenge with another club? That seems unlikely now, but we have seen things swing for players in the past in just a calendar year.
I’m not saying Makar is for sure leaving, I’m not even saying he is for sure staying. But if they cannot finalize a deal this offseason, we could be in for a very interesting offseason when it comes around next summer.
Could the Flames really land Makar?
The timing could really be perfect a year from now if the Flames play their cards right. The rebuild is well underway. The Flames established that by trading Rasmus Andersson, MacKenzie Weegar and the aforementioned Kadri this past season. Lots of futures were acquired, and they have drafted exceptionally well over the last couple of years under Craig Conroy.
They are missing one piece right now, the superstar forward. They won’t be getting that at this year’s draft, which is unfortunate. The team won’t be good next season again. They still can’t score, the backend is questionable, and they don’t have any game-breaking talent. Also, remember that Blake Coleman is as good as gone, and you have a lottery team once again. If the Flames get lucky, a top pick will land them a star forward with next year’s loaded draft.
Scotia Place is set to open in the 2027–28 season, with fresh blood like Zayne Parekh, Matvei Gridin, and Cole Reschny leading the charge. You have yourself a nice little core emerging, especially if they hit on their picks this year and, hopefully, next. Makar could be the final piece of the puzzle.
There will be lots of cap space and the chance to be the face of the franchise with a new rink just opening. It could be a match made in heaven for the player who grew up in Calgary as a Flames fan. At this point, it is obviously still a long shot. A lot can change in a year, and Conroy has done a fantastic job at making Calgary a place where players may want to sign. If any superstar is going to be heading “home” in the next couple of years, Makar could be the one.
Legacy matters
Makar’s legacy in Colorado is already secure. He helped bring a Stanley Cup to Denver and has established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history.
But what if he could do something even bigger?
Bringing a Stanley Cup to Calgary as a hometown superstar would create one of the most memorable stories in modern NHL history. The Flames have not won the Stanley Cup since 1989. Ending that drought as a Calgary native would cement Makar’s status as a legend in the city forever.
Final Thoughts
Will Makar actually leave Colorado? Nobody knows. The Avalanche remain one of the NHL’s model organizations and will undoubtedly do everything possible to keep him.
But if Makar ever decides to write the next chapter of his career somewhere else, Calgary offers something no other team can.
It’s home.
And for a player who has already accomplished nearly everything there is to accomplish in hockey, bringing a Stanley Cup back to his hometown might be the ultimate challenge and the ultimate legacy.