Draft Retrospective: The evolution of Cale Makar

No one moves like Cale Makar. 

His speed is blazing, acceleration explosive. Two crossovers, and he’s gone. When he hits the brakes, he kicks up a blizzard. 

When walking the blue line, Makar’s skating seems beyond the realm of mortals. He’s more graceful, deceptive, and powerful than anyone. It’s an unfair combination. Every player – NHLers or those aspiring to achieve such heights – can learn from Makar’s ability to dissect, break down, and anticipate. 

But the player who defines today’s generation of defenceman was far from a unanimous fourth-overall pick in the 2017 Draft. He defaulted to low-percentage plays, threw away possession under pressure with options, and generally played below his skill level, not to mention uncertainty around playing in the AJHL, Canada’s second-or-third-best J