BSN Exclusive: Coach of Avs prospect Cale Makar expects him to return to UMass, but will he?

The college season of 2017 first-round Avalanche draft choice Cale Makar ended Saturday. Technically, he is a free agent of sorts. He doesn’t have to return for a sophomore season at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst if he doesn’t want to. He could try to turn pro as soon as, well, now.

But that’s not what his college coach, Greg Carvel, expects to happen.

“We expect that he’ll return for another year with us,” Carvel told BSN Denver Monday morning. “Our season just ended and we’re going through some exit meetings and things like that. I’m sure I’ll talk to him and know more soon. But I think another year (here) would do him well.”

A lot of college players turn pro after just one season of college. Tyson Jost did just that with the Avs last year, in fact, leaving the University of North Dakota. But that is not expected to happen with Makar, 19, who was selected fourth overall last year by the Avs.

The Avs do no want to burn a year off his entry-level contract. Defensemen typically take a little longer to develop, which is another reason why Carvel said another year at UMass-Amherst would serve him best.

“There’s nothing I can really teach him offensively. He has that kind of elite offensive talent already. But it’s the play away from the puck that he still needs to improve,” Carvel told BSN Denver. “He was partially responsible for some of the goals against over the weekend. I think next year, though, he would be a dominant player in our league. This year, he was just a very good player.”

Though the Avs won’t sign him for any games this current season, it’s possible they could try to persuade him to come out after just one year of college. Makar is probably the team’s best prospect in its system. Or, the Avs could try for a scenario in which they see Makar play another year of college, but then sign him when it’s over and get something of the best of both worlds.

Makar scored five goals and 21 points in 34 games for UMass. He helped lead Canada to a gold medal in the most recent World Junior Championships.

Carvel said he hopes for a final decision from Makar within the next couple of weeks, as the recruiting season is already underway. UMass-Amherst finished 17-20-2 overall.