NHL analysts Frankie Corrado and Carlo Colaiacovo weighed in on the ongoing debate between Quinn Hughes and Cale Makar as the top defenseman in the league.

DENVER — Cale Makar deflects not only shots but any mention of milestones related to him. It’s just the nature of the Colorado Avalanche’s dynamic defenseman. He’s not a big spotlight person even if he constantly finds himself in the limelight.

BOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Blues enter the matchup with the Colorado Avalanche after losing three games in a row. Colorado is 29-21-2 overall and 7-8-1 against the Central Division. The Avalanche have conceded 164 goals while scoring 169 for a +5 scoring differential.

Makar scored two goals in the first period and dished the game-winning assist in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Rangers.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring ...

However, their defensive play appeared somewhat unstable, as both of the Jets' regulation goals stemmed from lapses in coverage in front of the net. Despite the loss, Cale Makar expressed strong admiration for Nathan MacKinnon, who scored a goal during the game.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring against the Dallas Stars in the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 18 ...

Will he re-sign in Carolina after this season -- and if not, where else? And what will other contenders do to keep pace ahead of the March 7 deadline?

The dust is still settling on the deal that sent Mikko Rantanen from the Colorado Avalanche to the Carolina Hurricanes. However, the question marks that still exist regarding Rantanen's future in the NHL (i.

The trades are coming in hot and Cup contenders are filling needs. What are the biggest needs for each contender?

The New York Islanders (22-20-7) dug deep. They won their fifth game in a row, closing out a very successful homestand with an emphatic third period against the Colorado Avalanche (29-21-2). The Islanders are alive after being declared dead in the water multiple times.