Avalanche to be without veteran defenseman for 3-4 weeks
Mar 19, 2025, 7:43 AM | Updated: 11:02 am
The Colorado Avalanche will be without defenseman Josh Manson for an undisclosed amount of time after the 33-year-old suffered an upper body injury against the Calgary Flames. As of March 19, Manson will be out 3-4 weeks nursing the injury.
This is the 17th time in Manson’s career he’s dealt with an injury of some capacity and the third this season. He suffered an upper body injury back in November at the start of the season, but this recent injury is not related to the previous.
“It’s a different injury,” Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar recently said. ” … He’s getting other opinions and trying to figure out what the rehab process is like.”
Bednar also said that Manson will still join the team on the upcoming Canadian road trip along with Captain Gabe Landeskog. With only three road trips left on the schedule, Bednar wants the team to have as many people together as possible, even if not everyone will play in the games.
“We’ll bring everybody that’s able to skate or do anything,” Bednar said.
The addition of Erik Johnson at the trade deadline is now paying off even more, as the Avalanche have a veteran who can pick up some of the minutes Manson is leaving behind. Him and Keaton Middleton will be the two players rotating in Manson’s place.
Another one of Colorado’s trade deadline pickups, Ryan Lindgren, hasn’t shared the ice with Manson for many games, but knows the impact that the veteran’s absence will have.
“He plays a hard, physical game,” Lindgren said. “So you lose a guy like that, it’s always tough. But you got the guys to step in and fill that role, and it’s not going to be easy, but hopefully he comes back soon.”
Bednar said that he should have more information regarding Manson’s absence today, but the Avs are preparing to be without him for at least a handful of games. This season, Manson has tallied 14 assists and one goal in 48 games. At the very least, the team will hope to have him back by the postseason, as his experience will be very valuable, especially if the Avalanche end up facing the Dallas Stars in the first round.
