Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes Go Head-to-Head for First Time in Playoffs

Q: What is the playoff history between Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes?

Cale Makar has a 10-6 record against Quinn Hughes in their 16 matchups, with Makar scoring 21 points compared to Hughes' eight assists.

Q: How did Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes perform in the Olympics?

In the Winter Olympics, Quinn Hughes outperformed Cale Makar, contributing to Team USA's gold medal victory.

Q: What teams do Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes currently play for?

Cale Makar plays for the Colorado Avalanche, while Quinn Hughes plays for the Minnesota Wild.

Q: What are the implications of this playoff matchup for Makar and Hughes?

This playoff matchup is significant as it marks the first time Makar and Hughes face each other in the playoffs, highlighting their rivalry and the stakes for their respective teams.

Jan 9, 2025; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar (8) takes a shot on goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Nick Wosika-Imagn Images Avalanche superstar Cale Makar and Minnesota Wild’s Quinn Hughes have often been regarded as the two best defensemen currently in the game. Makar was the winner of the 2025 Norris Trophy, while Hughes collected the honor the previous year when he was still with the Vancouver Canucks. The duo was also first and second in Calder Trophy votes in 2020, with Makar receiving the award as the rookie of the year. Less than three months ago, they went head-to-head for a gold medal at the Winter Olympics, and Hughes came out on top. Makar plays in Colorado and for Team Canada with Devon Toews. Hughes plays in Minnesota and for Team USA alongside Brock Faber. They’ve been compared to each other in nearly every step of their young careers. And for the first time since both entered the league, they’re going head-to-head in a highly anticipated playoff matchup between two of the top three regular-season teams in the Western Conference. “It’s fun to be able to have this in playoffs, but I don’t think, for me, it’s the main motivation,” Makar said on Saturday, as the Avalanche ramped up their preparation for Game 1. “I mean, he and Faber, in general, have been incredible. At the Olympics, too. It’s fun watching those guys. They’re incredible at breaking up the puck, and then obviously they’re in every single rush too. They make forwards’ jobs a lot more challenging. And give them credit, because obviously they did a great job against .” Head-to-head, the two star blueliners have quite the opposite track record. In 16 games against each other, Makar has a 10-6 edge. Hughes is 6-6-4 against the Avalanche, with the first 13 of those meetings coming while he still played in Vancouver. Makar has four goals, 17 assists, and 21 points in head-to-head matchups. Hughes, surprisingly, has never scored a goal against the Avalanche in his young career. He has just eight assists in 16 games, of which two have come in three games with Minnesota (Avs won two). This is the third time Hughes will appear in the second round, advancing past the first round each time he’s played playoff hockey. In 2024, he led the Vancouver Canucks to the No. 1 seed in the Pacific Division. They defeated the in the opening round before falling in a Game 7 heartbreaker to . During the 2020 postseason bubble, Hughes and the Canucks fell in Game 7 to the . Both times Hughes lost in the second round, the Avs were in the other Western Conference matchup and fell to the . Makar has played in the second round several times in his career, including in 2019 when he stepped into the playoffs straight out of college. The only time the Avs have advanced past Round 2 in Makar’s time was when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. Makar won the Conn Smythe. The trade to Minnesota will allow Hughes a better opportunity to find that team success more consistently. But given the division he plays in, and if he stays there long-term, it’ll likely have to go through Makar and the Avalanche almost every time. “Playing with him in the Olympics, you see how dynamic he is, how much he controls the play,” Avalanche center said. “And how you watch from afar, what he’s done for [Minnesota]. I think breakouts transition, five-five power play. He impacts them in all areas.” The Wild have a strong cast of blueliners surrounding Hughes and Faber, albeit one of them, , will miss the beginning of the series at least. Without him, Minnesota’s second pair is and team captain Jared Spurgeon. And they round out the six with veterans and on the third pair. The counter with a bottom two pairs of and , along with and , if the latter is ready to return. “I think the strengths are the exact same. You know, you’ve got a mobile group of D for us and them, guys that can be dynamic offensively, but are still committed to the checking game,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said. “Both units skate. Both can be physical. They make it hard to play against with their gaps, and they’re skating and getting up in your face and taking away time and space, same as our group. They got Faber and Hughes. We got Toews and Makar. “I think it’s a really similar group, and they’re deep. They got a deep group of D, and a lot of their offense runs through those top defenders that like to have the puck, similar to our guys, whether it’s off the rush or in O-zone play, they’re an active part of it.” The Avs and Wild begin their series at 7 pm MT on Sunday. It’s the fourth time the two teams have met in the postseason, with Minnesota winning two of the first three matchups. *Author’s Note: I’ll be in Minnesota later this week, continuing my playoff coverage from the road. Unfortunately, the expenses are adding up pretty quickly, and it’s getting more difficult to be at every game. If you enjoy the coverage here at Colorado Hockey Now and want to chip in to our travel budget, you can do so here via or . My goal remains to bring the best possible coverage from the rink and inside the locker room. Thank you all so much for being readers and supporters. Here’s to a playoff run that goes all the way through the end of June.* The post appeared first on .