Avalanche sign Josh Manson to two-year contract extension

The Colorado Avalanche have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with defenseman Josh Manson, the club announced Thursday afternoon.

Manson, 33, collected 15 points (one goal, 14 assists) while averaging 18:02 of ice time in 48 games with the Avalanche during the 2024-25 regular season. He also skated in seven playoff games with the club, scoring two goals and adding an assist.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Manson’s new contract carries a $3.95 million annual cap hit. The Hinsdale, Illinois product has one year remaining on his previous deal at a $4.5 million AAV.

Manson won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks earlier that year.

“Josh has been an important member of our blue line since joining the team during the 2022 stretch run,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a release on Thursday. “He is a steady and tough defender who chips in on the offensive side at key times. He is also a veteran leader in our dressing room, and we are excited to have him under contract for another three seasons.”

A sixth-round pick (No. 160 overall) of the Ducks in 2011, Manson spent his collegiate career at Northeastern University before turning pro in the Anaheim organization in 2014. He emerged as a full-time NHLer in the 2015-16 season and peaked with 37 points in 80 games in 2017-18.

After spending parts of eight seasons in Anaheim to begin his NHL career, Manson was traded to Colorado at the 2022 deadline in exchange for defense prospect Drew Helleson and a 2023 second-round pick. Manson settled in as Colorado’s No. 5 defenseman after the trade and has remained a fixture in the lineup (when healthy) since.

Through 626 career NHL games over parts of 11 seasons with the Ducks and Avalanche, Manson has collected 39 goals and 170 points to go along with exactly 600 penalty minutes. He’s added seven goals and 21 points in 65 career playoff contests with the two clubs.