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Taylor Makar could NHL debut alongside brother Cale on Saturday in San Jose
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- Taylor Makar could NHL debut alongside brother Cale on Saturday in San Jose
One player's misfortune could become another's opportunity.
Taylor Makar , the younger brother of two-time Norris Trophy winner Cale Makar, could make his NHL debut on Saturday in San Jose , as the Avalanche look to strengthen their lineup for the second game of a back-to-back against the Sharks.
The 24-year-old forward was recalled from the Colorado Eagles, where he has tallied one goal and three assists in nine AHL games this season. Drafted in the seventh round in 2021, Makar spent much of the offseason recovering from surgery to repair an upper-body injury, but he has returned to form.
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The call-up comes as a precaution following an injury to rookie forward Gavin Brindley , who left Friday's game in Las Vegas after a collision with Ivan Barbashev —the same player who broke Samuel Girard 's sternum during Colorado's 2022 Stanley Cup run. In that playoff series against the St. Louis Blues , Barbashev boarded Girard, sidelining him for the remainder of the postseason.
In Friday's game, Brindley attempted to cut across the ice to chase a loose puck. With his chin untucked, he collided with Barbashev's left shoulder, though the veteran did attempt to slow his momentum. Even so, the impact could have been far more serious. Brindley may have to sit out the next game, leaving the Avalanche to adjust accordingly.
Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said he would provide an update on Brindley's status on Saturday, positioning Makar to step in if needed. If that happens, it would mark the first time two brothers have taken the ice together for the same NHL team since Mathieu Joseph and Pierre‑Olivier Joseph suited up for the St. Louis Blues during the 2024‑25 season.
Next Game
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The Avalanche are coming off a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights to improve to 7-1-4 on the year. They square off against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Arena on Saturday. Coverage of the game begins at 2 p.m. local time.
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