Taylor Makar on his relationship with his brother and the next chapter of his hockey career

Taylor Makar is participating in his third development camp with the Avalanche organization since being selected in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

The striker is the younger brother of Cale Makar, who has established himself as one of the NHL’s best defenders since joining the league in 2019.

“It’s pretty cool,” Taylor said when talking about being in the same organization as his older brother. “Obviously spending time with my brother, learning a lot of tips and tricks, meeting people early, meeting a lot of staff, training and stuff like that. I would say in that regard it really helps and it’s cool that he was here earlier and can show me some of the methods.”

Makar, who played the last three seasons at the collegiate level at U-Mass Amherst, said he and his brother stay in touch during their busy seasons.

“We usually try to FaceTime every Sunday,” Taylor said. “It’s a long one and he follows my games and gives me tips. And then I watch his games pretty much every night they’re on. So I try to learn a lot and we always communicate that way.”

This season, however, Makar will be wearing a new jersey as he transferred to the University of Maine ahead of the upcoming season and is looking forward to the next chapter of his career.

“Just a different environment,” Taylor said. “The coaching staff I know there is great. I’ve had a lot of conversations with them. I’ve communicated a lot and I’m really looking forward to getting to know all the guys. Hopefully we can put together a championship team.”

Thinking back to the younger days of the Makar family, one would notice that there was no shortage of competition.

“We went to the same elementary school,” Taylor said. “And then almost every day after school, we would come home, microwave a plate of nachos and go out in the front yard and play a fun passing game and it would end with someone getting beat up or someone crying in the front yard. That’s how it usually went.”

When asked which brother was crying, Taylor replied, “Cale. He was definitely a crybaby.”