Josh Manson has become a seemingly permanent presence on the blue line for the Colorado Avalanche since his acquisition en route to the Stanley Cup in 2022. However, he has certainly taken a step back from his form in the run.

The 2024-25 season

Manson participated in only 48 games all season. He only tallied one goal and 14 assists. It’s the fewest points he’s had in a full season with the Avs since 2022-23, when he had 10 points in only 27 games.

In the playoffs, he did step up as he has in years past. In the seven-game series against the Dallas Stars, he had two goals in Games 6 and 7. This included a big shorthanded goal to open Game 7.

The 33-year-old defender struggled with an upper-body injury throughout the year. He missed the last month of the regular season with it. It followed just two weeks after he returned from a previous injury, which left him out for a month.

He was also out for a month between the end of November and December. In case it’s been unnoticeable, he’s been very injury-prone ever since winning the Cup.

This could be due to his style of play, which is his strength. He had 59 blocks and 105 hits. However, he struggled moving the puck several times. He ended with 74 turnovers, averaging nearly two per game.

Therefore, his use—or lack thereof—has been questioned in the last few years. He’s usually been paired alongside Samuel Girard when he’s been healthy. The duo has worked well, but Manson has also been demoted to the third pairing at times.

Will he stay in Colorado?

Perhaps the biggest question for the Avs is whether or not he’s worth the money. For a guy who has struggled to be healthy and stay in the top four, he’s making a lot of money when money is tight.

Manson is entering the final year of his four-year contract worth $4.5 million yearly. He has a modified no-trade clause with 12 teams.

Colorado thinks they do not need to do much in this offseason. Should they believe Manson is good to go and perform, they’ll keep him. However, if they find a better deal for another similar defender, they might take it and move on from Josh Manson.