Cale Makar’s Bobby Orr-similarities go beyond being a dominant defenseman as former UMass star shares legend’s humility

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 26: Cale Makar #8 of the Colorado Avalanche poses for a photo with the Conn Smythe Trophy after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in Game Six of the 2022 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Amalie Arena on June 26, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Long before Wayne Gretzky compared Cale Makar to one of hockey’s most hallowed names, Makar went looking for Bobby Orr.

Makar was a freshman at UMass in October of 2017. He was at TD Garden’s Legends Club for Hockey East Media Day and had yet to play a game above the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He and fellow freshman Mario Ferraro, now a defenseman for San Jose, journeyed out to the arena bowl to look at the banners, including Orr’s retired No. 4 hanging in the rafters.

Orr stopped playing 10 years before Makar was even born, but Gary Makar always encouraged his son to model himself after Orr. As a kid, Makar watched old footage of Orr leading the Boston Bruins to two Stanley Cups. He read a biography of the hockey legend for a class project and even dressed up like him for his presentation.

Cale Makar (middle) dressed as Bobby Orr for a grade school class project. (Gary Makar)

“Growing up, I looked at Bobby Orr as a role model. Just to see his retired number up there, that’s pretty cool,” Makar said that day. “I’m pretty star-struck to say the least.”

But it wasn’t just the puck-handling wizardry and end-to-end rushes that Gary Makar wanted his son to emulate.

“Bobby Orr is a legend and you can’t find a classier guy who gives back to the game,” Gary Makar said back in 2017. “If you’re going to emulate someone, the world doesn’t need any more arrogant hockey players. This guy is a model of someone who is always appreciative and respectful to people and the whole bit.”

Five years later, Makar has exceeded the considerable hype and promise that accompanied the player who went looking for Orr’s banner. On Sunday, he led the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup and was unanimously selected as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for the postseason MVP. At 23, he was the youngest player to win the award since Orr.

He never compared himself to Orr, but throughout the playoffs, plenty of people did it for him, including Gretzky. Makar had eight goals and 21 assists in just 20 playoff games as the Avalanche dethroned the Lightning. His package of skating and offensive skill at such a young age makes the comparison natural.

But as Makar did television interviews with both ABC and the NHL Network and then a press conference with media from all over the world, it was clear Orr’s personality and Makar’s upbringing had influenced the star defenseman the way Gary Makar had hoped.

“I just want to be one of the guys and a teammate. I don’t consider myself cocky by any standard,” Makar said. “I consider myself a humble guy. That’s that path I want to take throughout my career.”

Makar said that in 2017 and was still living it 2022. He turned every question about himself into an opportunity to praise and even thank his teammates, while praise poured in from around the hockey world, including one legendary former Bruin.

“Congratulations @Cmakar8 for a wonderful season!” Orr tweeted. “I couldn’t be happier for you and all your teammates @Avalanche.”

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