Cale Makar blows up Jordan Staal with a big hit.

Although this is only his third season in the National Hockey League young Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is quickly earning a reputation as one of the very best blue liners in the entire league. 

Makar though has earned that reputation due to his skills as a defenseman as well as his ability to generate offense, with 26 goals and 56 assists for 82 points in just 71 regular season games for example, and he hasn't done so as much with his physical game. Perhaps it was for that reason that on Saturday night, Carolina Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal was caught so unawares when Makar leveled him with a monster hit.

The hit would come as Staal and the Hurricanes were down 2 goals roughly midway through the game's third period and were looking to mount a comeback against the Avalanche. After picking the puck up in the neutral zone, Staal began skating it up the ice and into the Avalanche's defensive zone and that is where Makar was waiting for him.

Makar appeared to be skating backwards in a pretty standard motion but as Staal got closer he used some incredible edge work to drastically change his angle of approach and suddenly came forward with considerable momentum to level Staal with a thunderous body check. It was enough of a hit to prompt an immediate reaction from the crowd in attendance as well as from those in the broadcast booth covering the game, and it would prompt an immediate reaction from Staal as well.

In spite of being a pretty proud and durable guy in his own right Staal was noticeably shaken up by the impact of the hit almost immediately. Even the way that Staal tried to pick himself up off the ice gave an indication that he was feeling the ill effects of that blow, and therefore it came as relatively little surprise when he made the decision to immediately retreat to the Hurricanes locker room for some repairs.

Makar is already one of the scariest defensemen to play against in the NHL, and he is perhaps showing some of his opponents that they have more than just his skill with the puck to fear.