Here's how the Makar contract affects the Canucks

In today's Locked On Canucks, we're reacting to the massive Cale Makar contract extension and asking what it could mean for the Vancouver Canucks and Zeev Buium.

Makar has agreed to an 8-year, $163.2 million extension worth $20.4 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history.

And while Buium obviously isn't Cale Makar right now, there's a very important connection:

They're both defensemen.So what does a historic contract like this do to the market for young defensemen?

Buium is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, and the Canucks now have a major decision to make. Do they try to get ahead of the market and lock Buium up long-term before he reaches his full potential? Or do they let him play out another season and see exactly what they have?

The NHL salary cap continues to rise, and contracts for elite young players are getting bigger and bigger. If Buium develops into the top-pairing defenseman Vancouver believes he can become, waiting could become very expensive.

We'll discuss the Makar contract, Buium's potential next deal, the exploding defenseman market and whether the Canucks should be trying to get Zeev locked up right now.

👇 IN THIS VIDEO:

✔ Cale Makar's historic $20.4M AAV contract

✔ How Makar's deal could affect the NHL defenseman market

✔ What it means for Zeev Buium

✔ Should the Canucks extend Buium now?