Colorado's Cale Makar: Avs must prove to GM to 'buy' at trade deadline

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar feels his team still has a ways to go in order to get GM Chris MacFarland to add before the March 7 trade deadline.

Makar spoke to the media following the Avs' 3-1 loss Sunday to the St. Louis Blues, and opened up about how important this stretch of the season is for Colorado. "This is a huge point in the season for us," the star defenseman said per Altitude TV. "Obviously, I think every single guy on this team, we gotta prove to management that this should be a group that they invest in. If we keep having games like this, it's going to be hard for them to justify it. It's gonna be on us. We know as a group we have a lot better than this. Just unfortunate when we can't find the consistency."

Nathan MacKinnon called the team's game against the Blues 'terrible'. The Avs' outshot the Blues 29-25 and opened the scoring, only to give up three unanswered in the loss. The team has been busy already as MacFarland couldn't come to terms with Mikko Rantanen, so they moved him to Carolina for Jack Drury and Martin Necas. Both players have taken on their roles in Colorado with ease, it's just where the team goes from here that will be interesting to watch.

Mackenzie Blackwood was also acquired this season and has since been extended on a long-term contract. Colorado is currently in the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference with a 33-24-2 record.

MacFarland has two second-round picks to consider moving ahead of the trade deadline, along with several prospects including Calum Ritchie, who is tearing up the Ontario Hockey League. If the Avalanche do add, it's likely to be a top-six forward, as there's also been rumblings they'd like to upgrade at 2C, with Casey Mittelstadt being linked to a move before the deadline.