CALGARY, Alberta — The grounded Cale Makar won’t make waves with Avalanche. Character counts in hockey, and the Avs wouldn’t have introduced Makar into the lineup at the Stanley Cup Playoffs if they believed he would interrupt chemistry.

Makar, 20, didn’t perform in a single shift in Colorado’s season but is currently a defenseman for a group that’s uniquely deep in the position. The Avs are 3-0 together during a stretch Sam Girard, also 20 and a portion of the Avs’ blue-line, was said to be scratched due to injury.

But I wonder if Girard — a top-pair defenseman all season — was scratched in Friday’s series-clinching Game 5 since the Avs couldn’t alter their lineup after playing the previous two matches. Makar and Girard are similar-style, puck-moving/skating D-men such as Tyson Barrie, and guys Erik Johnson, Ian Cole, Nikita Zadorov and Patrik Nemeth have been too good to scratch.

Going with seven defensemen and one fewer forwards is an option — which may unfold in the series against Vegas or San Jose — but Makar appears poised to get ice time since the Avs move forward.

Makar led Colorado in first-period ice in Friday’s Game 5 while Girard, listed as daily with what is believed to be a shoulder injury, was scratched along with fellow defensemen Mark Barberio and Ryan Graves. Barberio was a routine for the Avs in the playoffs and Graves, an impressive rookie, is like Makar and Girard — a piece of the group ’s future.

This is the NHL and favorites based on the past is irrelevant. But seeing a college kid join the fray in the playoffs has to be unsettling to the defensemen who helped get the Avs into the playoffs.

Not to worry. The affable Makar is loaded with character and will handle his arrival. He’s the kind of person who won’t act like he’s better than anyone else on the team.

But don’t take my word for it.

En route to Denver last Sunday to begin his NHL career a day after in Game 3 at the Pepsi Center, Makar met two diehard University of Denver fans — two men who were rooting against him and the University of Massachusetts at the April 11 Frozen Four semifinal match between the Pioneers and Minutemen.

Makar made a big impression on Jon Meredith and Bill Miller.

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“We had an opportunity to speak to him quite a little when boarding in Toronto and in DIA baggage claim,” Meredith said. “He seems like a terrific kid who’s very humble about his success and the expectations people have for him. When the Frozen Four ended, Massachusetts having lost, Cale stood by the doorway to the bench as his teammates registered off the ice. He hugged every one of the coaches them and the coaching staff. He told Bill and I that leaving his teammates is one of the hardest things he’s ever had to do. ”

Makar, an alternate captain as a sophomore, was a fantastic teammate at UMass. And he’ll be a fantastic teammate with the Avalanche.

“Cale seems like a grounded child with his stuff together,” Miller said. “It was a pleasure. ”

The Avalanche added a great defenseman and an even greater person.

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