Anaheim Ducks trade defenseman Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche
Multiple reporters including Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Pierre LeBrun, and ESPN/NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes are reporting that the Anaheim Ducks have traded defenseman Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche for defense prospect Drew Helleson and a 2023 second round draft pick. The Ducks will be retaining 50% of Manson’s salary, the maximum allowable by the CBA.
Josh Manson was near the top of the list for pending free agent defensemen to be dealt at the trade deadline, which is on March 21st. Manson was drafted in the 6th round (160th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He turned into one of the best value picks in franchise history, making his NHL debut during the 2014-15 season and becoming a fixture on the Ducks top four blue line.
The return is headlined by Colorado’s 2019 second round pick Drew Helleson, a defenseman with Boston College. The 20-year-old American clocks in at 6’3” and 204 lbs. As far as size and style of play are concerned, Helleson can be thought of as a younger version of Manson; someone who is a pass first defender with a nice physical game and has decent skating ability.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic most recently ranked Helleson as the eighth-best prospect in Colorado’s system and had this to say about him:
“He now involves himself regularly in the Eagles’ attacks, looking to activate off the line consistently (with the puck to attack and without it to get open). That complements his longstanding ability to defend the rush, maintain good positioning in the defensive half, rarely make the wrong choice with the puck or on a read, and just sound instincts and intuition in all four corners of the rink. He projects as a steady, reliable No. 5-6 defenceman.”
The Ducks also received a second round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft from the Avalanche as part of the return.