Story Summary
Josh Manson is expected to miss eight weeks with an ankle injury, leaving the Colorado Avalanche without a veteran defenceman whose physical game, leadership and experience have been important parts of their early season.
Coach Jared Bednar confirmed the timeline after Manson left Colorado’s 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils at 15:19 of the first period. Manson fell awkwardly following a missed body check and did not return to the game.
The 34-year-old has recorded one goal and three assists in 13 games this season. His value has also been evident away from the scoresheet: he leads Colorado with 28 hits and ranks third on the club with 17 blocked shots.
Manson is in his sixth season with the Avalanche and was part of their Stanley Cup-winning side in 2022. Brett Kulak called his absence an “irreplaceable loss”, pointing to the combination of leadership, physicality and experience that Manson brings to the blue line.
Noah Juulsen is expected to become a regular in the line-up while Manson is unavailable. Juulsen has one assist in eight games and has averaged 10:38 of ice time per game this season.
Key Facts
- Josh Manson is expected to miss eight weeks for the Colorado Avalanche with an ankle injury.
- Manson left Colorado’s 5-2 win against the New Jersey Devils at 15:19 of the first period after falling awkwardly following a missed body check.
- Manson did not return against New Jersey.
- Manson has one goal and three assists in 13 games this season.
- Manson leads the Avalanche with 28 hits and ranks third on the team with 17 blocked shots.
- Manson is in his sixth season with Colorado and won the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
- Noah Juulsen is expected to be a regular in the Avalanche line-up during Manson’s absence.
- Juulsen has one assist in eight games this season and is averaging 10:38 of ice time per game.
IHM Discussion
An eight-week absence removes more than one defenceman from Colorado’s options. Manson’s early numbers show the specific areas he has covered: he has supplied four points, led the team in hits and sat among its leading shot-blockers. Those are tangible parts of a game, but Kulak’s description of Manson also speaks to the less measurable value of an established player who has been through a Stanley Cup run with the club.
Colorado have experienced significant absences before, as Kulak acknowledged when referring to time missed by Cale Makar last season. That history does not reduce the effect of Manson’s injury, but it gives the group a familiar frame of reference. The Avalanche must continue without him rather than wait for one player to reproduce every element of his game.
Bednar’s comments on Juulsen make clear why his immediate presence matters. Juulsen has been with the group every day, allowing him to step into a regular role without the adjustment period that can come with calling up a defenceman from outside the day-to-day NHL group. Bednar praised Juulsen’s attitude and said he has played well when used.
The injury was also described by Kulak as better news than it might initially have been. That should be understood within the stated eight-week timetable, not as an indication that Manson’s absence will be brief. Colorado now have a defined spell in which to manage without a player who has been a prominent physical presence through the opening 13 games.
Why It Matters
Manson’s absence will be felt most clearly in the workload that is now spread across the Avalanche blue line. His 28 hits and 17 blocked shots demonstrate regular involvement in demanding defensive sequences, while his four points show that he has also contributed offensively.
For Colorado, the immediate importance is continuity. Juulsen is already part of the NHL group and is expected to play regularly, which gives the coaching staff a known option rather than a newcomer who needs to be brought up to speed. His season sample is smaller than Manson’s, but he has appeared in eight games and has been available to Bednar throughout the season.
The Avalanche also lose a player with significant club history. Manson has been in Colorado for six seasons and won the Stanley Cup in 2022, experience that Kulak identified when explaining why the loss will be difficult to cover. The response will have to be collective, as Kulak said, rather than an attempt by one player to duplicate Manson’s style.
Mini Q&A
How long is Josh Manson expected to be out?
Josh Manson is expected to miss eight weeks with an ankle injury.
How did Josh Manson suffer the injury?
Manson fell awkwardly following a missed body check at 15:19 of the first period against the New Jersey Devils and did not return.
Who is expected to replace Manson in Colorado’s line-up?
Noah Juulsen is expected to be a regular in the Avalanche line-up while Manson is out.
What has Manson contributed this season?
Manson has four points in 13 games, leads Colorado with 28 hits and ranks third on the team with 17 blocked shots.
Coach Mark Comment
The 15:19 mark is the hard part of this one. Manson’s night ended before the game had properly settled, after an awkward fall on a missed body check, and Colorado were left to finish a 5-2 win without a defenceman who normally brings a great deal of edge to the rink.
Juulsen does not need to become Josh Manson over the next eight weeks. Bednar’s point about him being with the group every day is the useful one: he knows the routine, has already played games, and can step in without the disruption of a late call-up. Manson’s hits and blocks will be missed, but Juulsen’s job is to play the game that has earned Bednar’s trust.
What Comes Next
Colorado next host the Calgary Flames on Saturday. The game will offer the Avalanche their first opportunity to play without Manson following confirmation of his eight-week absence, with Juulsen expected to be a regular in the line-up.
IHM Final View
Josh Manson’s injury gives Colorado a clear and significant absence to manage over the next eight weeks. His production, physicality and long experience with the Avalanche make him difficult to replace in full.
The immediate answer is already within the group. Noah Juulsen is expected to take on regular duty, and Bednar’s confidence in his readiness provides Colorado with continuity as the club moves forward without Manson.