The Colorado Avalanche will have to manage without veteran defenseman Josh Manson for the foreseeable future. Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Manson, who already missed a game due to an upper-body injury, will be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks. The injury occurred during Friday’s game against Calgary, though the exact moment of the injury remains unclear. It’s also uncertain whether this setback is related to the previous upper-body issue that caused him to miss 12 games earlier this season.
Since joining the Avalanche from Anaheim at the 2022 trade deadline, Manson has been a key part of the team’s blue line, contributing to their Stanley Cup victory that year. This success earned him a four-year, $18 million extension. However, his tenure in Denver has been marred by injuries. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Manson has played in just 151 of 232 possible games, missing about 35% of the Avalanche’s contests. Although he was relatively healthy last year, playing over 70 games, his availability has been inconsistent this season.
In 48 games during the 2024-25 season, the 33-year-old has registered one goal and 14 assists, leading all Colorado defensemen with 105 hits. However, his defensive metrics tell a different story—his -4.8 relative Corsi for percentage and a team-worst -7.7 expected rating at even strength highlight his struggles. Despite his experience, his two-way play has been a concern for the Avalanche this season.
While there are no other injuries on the blue line currently, Manson’s absence exposes the team’s lack of depth on the right side. With him out, Erik Johnson and Sam Malinski will need to step up behind star defenseman Cale Makar.
The Avalanche made moves at the trade deadline to bolster their lineup, but their defense remains a concern. As the playoffs approach, Manson’s recovery timeline will be crucial for the Avs as they aim for a deep postseason run.
Leave a Reply