Makar leads new wave of D-men

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This article was published 07/12/2023 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DENVER — To watch Cale Makar play hockey is to witness history in the making. He’s that good, putting up the types of ridiculous offensive numbers that few defenceman in his sport have ever done.

Bobby Orr, at 1.39 points-per-game, is all the all-time leader in that category. Paul Coffey is second at 1.09. And right behind him is Makar, who returned from a two game injury and entered play against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night with 1.07 points-per-game through the first 261 contests of his career.

Here’s the truly scary thing about the 25-year-old: He appears to only be getting better. With 34 points in his first 23 games this year (1.48 points-per-game) that would put Makar on pace for a career-high 121 points over a full 82-game slate. Only Orr (three times) and Coffey (three times) ever had that kind of single-season production, and it’s safe to say the style of game in their eras was markedly different than the one today.

“I think it’s probably just his first step on the ice,” is how Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey described what makes Makar tick. “He’s obviously a very smart player and has a great shot, but his first step, or couple steps, are very explosive.”

Morrissey would know. As a fellow Calgary native, he and Makar often cross paths in the summer and occasionally skate together as part of a small group which also includes Brayden Point, Jordan Eberle, Travis Konecny and Adam Lowry, among others.

“I’ve known him for a long time and watched him in Junior A in Calgary, even minor hockey before that. My brother is younger than me so they would have crossed paths, too,” Morrissey, 28, said following the club’s morning skate. “When you do some of the drills up close and you see him accelerating, it’s pretty impressive. It’s fun to skate with him and try and improve.”

Here’s the other thing about watching Makar play hockey: You’re also witnessing an emerging trend in the modern NHL, one that is seeing mobile defencemen more active than ever and increasingly part of a team’s offensive attack. That’s certainly been the case in Winnipeg, where coach Rick Bowness declared “Our D are coming” prior to the start of last season, which ultimately led to Morrissey putting up career highs in goals (16), assists (60) and points (76).

“I think as the game’s evolved, we’ve seen that become more and more prevalent,” said Morrissey, who is on a similar pace so far this year with 20 points through his first 24 games. “Maybe back in the day teams had one guy that could move well. Now, you have more and more. I look back at the 04-05 lockout when the rules really changed on the obstruction and the kids that are now in the league, I grew up in that era when the rules changed. All those guys were playing and developing as the rules changed.”

Consider this: A decade ago, Erik Karlsson led all NHL defenceman with 74 points, which equates to .90 per game. Nobody else was above .80.

Last year, Karlsson became just the sixth defenceman in NHL history (joining Orr, Coffey, Brian Leetch, Al MacInnis and Denis Potvin) to eclipse the century mark when he had 101 points. Makar also averaged more than a point-per-game (66 in 60), while nine other players including Morrissey had at least .80 points-per-game. There could be even more this year. As of Thursday, Makar, Quinn Hughes, Adam Fox, Evan Bouchard and Victor Hedman all have at least a point-per-game, while another nine blue-liners, once again including Morrissey, have at least .80 points-per-game.

“As skills increase, as speeds increase and the rules have changed, teams have adopted those systems as well. Rick’s encouragement of me getting up in the play and being offensive, I definitely felt I improved over the summer but a large part of that was him giving me the green light,” said Morrissey. “I think that’s why offensive D are having the opportunity to flourish.”

Bowness has been involved in the NHL game for nearly 50 years. He said players such as Makar are really changing the way the game is played — and the way people like him manage the bench,

“The league is so well coached today and you have so many good players, you have to try and outnumber on as many rushes as you can,” he said. “The only way you’re going to do that most games is get your D involved. You gotta have a four-man rush. If you don’t have a four-man rush in today’s NHL, you’re very easy to defend.”

Bowness repeatedly preaches the importance of “coming in waves,” and it’s not just Morrissey on his team from the style of play. Dylan DeMelo set a new career high last year and is on pace to surpass it this season, while Brenden Dillon is tracking to join him in that department. Winnipeg is currently in the upper-tier of the NHL when it comes to offence from defencemen, with 10 goals and 43 assists combined through the first 24 games of the season prior to facing Colorado.

“Listen, Makar and Karlsson, they lead rushes. Mo (Morrissey) has the green light to do that as well,” said Bowness. “When he has the puck, skate it out. We’re not saying D always have to come late. You get the puck, lead the rush. There was a time, I won’t age myself, you were never worried about that four-man rush. You better be aware of it now.”

All of which is music to the ears of someone such as Morrissey, who finished fifth in Norris Trophy voting last year behind the top four of Karlsson, Fox, Makar and Hampus Lindholm.

“I think over the last couple of years I’ve given myself an opportunity to be in that echelon,” he said in anticipation of this season’s first head-to-head battle with Makar and the chance for a measuring stick type of game. “I see what they’re doing and try to push against that. When you get out there and play you want to compete and try and play your best game. Not that there’s added motivation, but my goal is to be among the best in the league.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg