Big News for Colorado Hockey

Josh Manson has built a successful NHL career in his own way, following in the footsteps of his legendary father while creating a legacy of his own.

His father, Dave Manson, was one of the NHL’s toughest defensemen during the late 1980s and 1990s. Over 1,103 career games, Dave accumulated 2,792 penalty minutes, placing him 13th on the NHL’s all-time list. Despite his long and physical career, he never won a Stanley Cup. His son Josh eventually did.

The moment became especially meaningful during the 2022 Western Conference Final. Dave was working as an assistant coach for the Edmonton Oilers when they faced Colorado. After the Avalanche swept Edmonton, the father and son met in the handshake line. Dave congratulated Josh and encouraged him to finish the job. Colorado went on to do exactly that.

Josh’s path to the NHL, however, was anything but guaranteed. Despite growing up around professional hockey, he wasn’t considered a highly touted prospect. Instead, he developed his game at Northeastern University, eventually becoming team captain and earning Hockey East’s Best Defensive Defenseman award and Second-Team All-Star honors during the 2013-14 season.

From Sixth-Round Pick to NHL Mainstay

The Anaheim Ducks selected Manson with the 160th pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. Despite being a sixth-round selection, he developed into one of Anaheim’s most dependable defensemen.

Manson spent eight seasons with the Ducks and appeared in 453 games, eventually becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in hits by a defenseman.

His career took another major turn at the 2022 trade deadline when Colorado acquired him. The Avalanche sent defenseman Drew Helleson and a second-round pick to Anaheim for the 6-foot-3, 218-pound defenseman.

Colorado already possessed plenty of offensive firepower with Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen. What the team needed was more size, physicality and defensive toughness. Manson provided all three.

He made an immediate impact during the playoffs. In the second round against the St. Louis Blues, Manson scored his first career playoff goal—and it came as an overtime winner in Game 1.

Colorado eventually swept Edmonton before defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games to capture the third Stanley Cup in franchise history.

The Avalanche later rewarded Manson with a two-year contract extension in July 2025, keeping him in Colorado through the 2027-28 season. He continued to demonstrate his value during the 2025-26 campaign, appearing in 79 games and recording five goals, 26 assists, 31 points and a plus-42 rating.

Now 34, Manson continues to be a reliable presence on Colorado’s blue line.

Creating His Own Legacy

Although Josh followed his father into the NHL, his journey was very different. Dave was a first-round pick by the Chicago Blackhawks, while Josh entered the league as a late-round selection who had to earn nearly every opportunity.

That makes Josh’s accomplishments even more significant. After more than 700 NHL games, he has achieved something his father never did: winning the Stanley Cup.

Manson may have inherited his father’s physical style, but he built his own career through perseverance, development and determination. Four years after helping Colorado capture the Cup, he remains focused on helping the Avalanche pursue another championship.