I was fortunate enough to grow up watching the great Scott Niedermayer perform on-ice magic night in and night out for the New Jersey Devils and the Anaheim Ducks. Niedermayer was and is still widely regarded as one of the most skilled and smoothest skating defensemen of all time, but even he will have to take a backseat to what I've seen from a young Mr. Cale Makar.

At just 23 years of age Makar is gearing up to have one hell of a career and he's making it look effortless. The overtime goal he scored on Marc-Andre Fleury, the third-winningest goalie in league history was one for the ages - simply jaw-dropping.

If you haven't seen it... Just kidding I know you've seen it but here it is again.

GO OFF, CALE MAKAR. 😳🤯

Just a beautifuuuuul @trulyseltzer OT winner right here. pic.twitter.com/PKMYScavXE

— NHL (@NHL) January 5, 2022

Funny thing is, that goal is just a taste of what's to come from Makar. Fellow blueliner Erik Johnson was gushing about his teammate after the OT heroics saying "He's going to keep getting better, which is the scary part." Not so scary for 'Avs fans but downright frightening for the rest of the league.

Makar quietly has 28 points (14g 14a) in just 25 games this season. In just his third NHL season he's already moved into ninth all-time in points by an 'Avs defenseman with 122 points (34g 88a) in 126 career games. On a team full of elite offensive defensemen, He's is the spearhead of the group, and that in itself is amazing when you think of the amount of talent in that locker room.

To put it into perspective, only Vegas has more points from defenseman than the 'Avs and that shouldn't last for much longer. Colorado's played seven fewer games than the Golden Knights.

I started off with a comparison to Niedermayer and that's a bit unfair - right now. The two are uniquely gifted in their own ways. 'Nieds was more polished defensively but Makar can and will get there. Other similarities are hard to ignore though. Both men are quietly confident, beautiful heads-up skaters, offensively creative, and each could take your breath away with one rush up the ice.

Makar has his work cut out for him though.

Niedermayer is a four-time Stanley Cup Champion, Gold Medal winner, Norris Trophy recipient. Conn Smythe winner and Hall of Famer. Makar has a long way to go to fill those skates, but I fully believe he's up to the task.

As I said, I was lucky enough to have seen 'Nieds do it and I'm going to be just as lucky to watch Makar make his mark on this league. He may not accomplish everything Scott Niedermayer did, but he's already making it interesting.

Thanks for reading,
Steve

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