Cale Makar after winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in April. ( Getty Images)

" In college you're absolutely in the gym all the time. It's not like you're slacking off every day and then playing on the weekends."

Colorado felt so confident in their vibrant protective depth led by Makar, Samuel Girard and 2019 No. 4 choice Bowen Byram that basic supervisor Joe Sakic traded Tyson Barrie to Toronto this summer season.

Barrie got an up-close look at Makar in their 10 video games together and came away thoroughly amazed.

" It was practically difficult to fathom," Barrie said. "He entered the playoffs and was beating people one-on-one and doing things you don't expect for a couple of years.

" He was my choice for the Calder. He's honestly got it all."

And while rookie of the year is a real possibility, Makar likewise currently discovers himself in the race to be the league's finest defenceman.

" It's so remarkable to have somebody back there that's so dominant," MacKinnon said. "He's in the Norris (Trophy) running this year ... not simply the Calder."

" I simply kind of blacked out the whole time," Makar said before Wednesday's 3-1 success over the Toronto Maple Leafs." I am stunned," said Colorado centre Nathan MacKinnon. Makar has 12 points on the power play and has actually assisted set up eight of MacKinnon's 18 objectives, including 5 main helps. And yet, Makar knows there's still space to grow." I've currently played over half the amount of games I played last year in a span of essentially two months," he stated. Cale Makar scores in NHL launching during Stanley Cup playoffs:

The 2019 Hobey Baker Award winner scores first NHL objective versus youth team. 0:54

That desire to constantly enhance was part of the reason he postponed his NHL arrival and remained at UMass longer than lots of observers expected.

" There's no rush to it," he stated. "After that first year I felt I still required to work on some elements of my video game, so I returned and I did."

Makar played just 75 times total in his 2 college campaigns, but stated often too much is made of players in his circumstance needing to transition to the grind of an 82-game NHL season.

" I've already played over half the quantity of games I played in 2015 in a period of generally two months," he stated. "It's a new learning curve.