Josh Manson is set to remain with the Colorado Avalanche in the Mile High City.
The team announced Thursday that they have signed the defenseman to a two-year contract extension, which will keep him with the club through the 2027-28 season.
The new deal is reportedly valued at $7.9 million, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $3.95 million.
Last season, Manson`s participation was limited to 48 games due to injury. He recorded 15 points, consisting of one goal and 14 assists, while averaging 18:02 of ice time per game. His assist total and average time on ice both ranked fourth among Avalanche defensemen.
The 33-year-old defenseman also featured in all seven of Colorado`s Stanley Cup Playoff games last season, contributing three points, including a goal in each of the team`s final two contests.
“Josh has been an important member of our blue line since joining the team during the 2022 stretch run,” said Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland in a statement. “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.”
Standing six-foot-three and weighing 218 pounds, Manson was a key member of the Avalanche`s 2022 Stanley Cup championship team. During that playoff run, he achieved career highs with three goals and eight points, including scoring the overtime winner for his first career playoff goal in Game 1 of the second-round series against St. Louis on May 17, 2022. Manson was acquired by the Avalanche prior to the 2022 trade deadline and signed a four-year contract extension later that off-season.
Since making his debut with the Avalanche in March 2022, Manson has accumulated 57 points (13 goals, 44 assists) over 173 regular-season games.
He was originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round, 160th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Before being traded to Colorado, Manson ranked fifth all-time among Anaheim Ducks defensemen in games played (453) and third in plus-minus (+39). His 87 assists and 113 points place him ninth all-time among Ducks blueliners. He also holds the Ducks franchise record for hits by a defenseman (1,083) and ranks second among all Ducks skaters, trailing only Ryan Getzlaf (1,980).
