We ran the numbers. Cale Makar is the NHL playoffs’ fastest defenseman
Cale Makar’s 23.92 mph burst made him the fastest defenseman in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and this chart shows how far ahead he is of the rest.
In game two of the Colorado Avalanche's opening round series against the Los Angeles Kings on April 21, defenseman Cale Makar reached a maximum speed of 23. 92 mph. That speed is the fastest ever recorded by a defenseman in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the NHL started tracking the stat in the 2021-22 season.
It’s also the fastest overall speed in this year’s playoffs, regardless of position. Makar’s top speed is over 1 mph faster than this year’s next fastest defenseman of the playoffs, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins (22. 78 mph).
Previously, the highest max speed mark for a defenseman in the playoffs was set last year by Noah Hanifin for the Vegas Golden Knights (23. 66 mph). The next fastest skater after Makar this year is Los Angeles’ Trevor Moore.
The left winger has topped out at 23. 48 mph this postseason. Makar’s previous top speed in the playoffs was 23.