Avalanche take defenseman Cale Makar with first-round NHL draft pick

Few players saw their stock rise as quickly in recent months as an NHL draft prospect than defenseman Cale Makar. Friday night, with the fourth pick in the first round of the draft in Chicago, the Avalanche made Makar its property.

Colorado wanted and needed a defenseman in this draft, and it might have found the best one available in the Alberta Junior Hockey League player. Sure, every team says that about their first-round picks, but the Avs believe they have a future star on their hands for years to come on the back end with Makar.

Makar and Finnish player Miro Heiskanen were considered the top two D-men available in the draft, but Avs chief scout Alan Hepple tipped the club’s hand a bit…