Taylor Makar

Taylor Makar has all the ingredients in place for a significant leap forward in his development this coming season. The young defenseman has been building toward this moment, and the Avalanche organization clearly believes he's ready for a bigger role. If Makar delivers on his potential, it could reshape how people view Colorado's blue line depth and their Stanley Cup window.

The Colorado Avalanche have secured Taylor Makar's future with a contract extension, but everyone in Denver knows this is just the appetizer. The real storyline simmering in the background is whether the team can get Cale Makar - the franchise cornerstone and one of the league's elite defensemen - locked into a long-term deal before things get complicated.