Cale Makar breaks his silence on Logan O'Connor's massive contract extension

Logan O'Connor's future with the Colorado Avalanche just took a huge step forward, as evidenced by his six-year contract extension. In addition to locking him in for the long haul, this extension identifies O'Connor as increasingly important to the club. Without question, Logan O'Connor is being groomed for one of the main leading positions of the Avs in the near future.

The retirement of Andrew Cogliano opened a hole in the Avalanche's leadership group, one that will be tough to replace. But O'Connor has been on the rise in the team and is now being counted upon to play a more leading part. After investing years in the team and knowing its culture inside out, he should be a natural fit to help fill this void. His teammate Cale Makar could not hold back the excitement and love he had for him, as can be seen in his interview below.

Now in his seventh season with Colorado, O'Connor is one of the most veteran players on the roster. That type of longevity brings with it a level of credibility to help steer younger players and set a good example for them. He's not just a player anymore, but a veteran presence who can help mold the direction of the squad.

In the case of O'Connor, it's more about growth with the Avalanche, going from developing talent to key contributor. He was called up through the system, so he knows what it takes to come up as a homegrown player. Automatically, that in itself makes him special to his teammates when trying to gain respect and build trust.

Even with the addition of multiple veterans over the past two seasons, Logan O'Connor remains senior. Years of being committed and cultivated by Colorado create a natural leader, but it cements that role with this new contract. The leadership of O'Connor will be instrumental going forward as the Avalanche continue to evolve.