The Colorado Avalanche will have to manage without veteran defenseman Josh Manson for the foreseeable future. Head coach Jared Bednar confirmed that Manson, who already missed a game due to an upper-body injury, will be out for at least a couple of weeks. The injury occurred during Friday’s matchup against Calgary, but the exact moment remains unclear. It’s also uncertain whether this setback is related to the previous upper-body issue that kept him sidelined for 12 games earlier this season.<\/p>
Manson has been a crucial piece of Colorado’s blue line since arriving from Anaheim at the 2022 trade deadline. His physical presence helped the Avs secure their Stanley Cup that year, earning him a four-year, $18 million extension. However, his time in Denver has been riddled with injuries. Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Manson has only suited up for 151 of 232 possible games, meaning he’s missed roughly 35% of Colorado’s contests. While he remained relatively healthy last year, playing over 70 games, his availability this season has been inconsistent.<\/p>