The Colorado Avalanche have locked up defenseman Josh Manson with a new deal that’ll keep him in burgundy and blue until 2028. The contract kicks in next season, dropping his cap hit slightly from $4.5 million to just under $4 million.
It’s a pretty big commitment to a player who’s had some tough luck staying healthy.
Manson, who’ll turn 34 in October, came to Colorado at the 2022 trade deadline and helped the team win the Stanley Cup that year. He’s been a solid No. 2 right-handed defenseman behind superstar Cale Makar when he’s been able to stay on the ice.
But that’s been the catch.
He’s only played in 61% of the Avs’ games since joining the team. Last season, he suited up for just 48 games, and the year before that, he only managed 27 appearances due to a nagging lower-body injury.
The timing of the extension has raised some eyebrows around the league. Manson’s performance took a noticeable dip last season – for the first time in his career, the team actually played better when he wasn’t on the ice. While the Avs still controlled 51.4% of shot attempts with him playing, that number jumped to 56.2% when he sat.
Some thought Colorado might trade Manson to free up cap space. Instead, they shipped out forwards Charlie Coyle and Miles Wood to Columbus, and brought in veteran defenseman Brent Burns.
The new deal pretty much guarantees Manson will finish his career in Colorado – a big bet on a player whose best years might be behind him. But the Avs clearly value his physical, stay-at-home style of play and his experience from nine NHL seasons, including eight with Anaheim before coming to Denver.
