Avalanche keep Manson around

*Photo from Sports Spectrum*

   There's another member of the Stanley Cup champions sticking around for another go at it. The Colorado Avalanche and D Josh Manson have agreed to a 4 year, $18 million deal, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The Avalanche have confirmed the deal.

   Last season, split between the Anaheim Ducks and the Avalanche, Manson had 6 goals and 10 assists, with a -11 plus/minus rating while averaging 18:59 of ice time in 67 regular season games. In the playoffs, Manson had 3 goals and 5 assists in 20 games, his 4th season of playoff hockey.

   In Manson's career, spanning 8 seasons, all with the Ducks and Avalanche, he has 28 goals and 92 assists, averaging 19:44 of ice time per game while posting a +28 plus/minus rating in 475 regular season games. Manson has 3 goals and 8 assists in 42 career playoff games.

   Avalanche GM Chris McFarland said of bringing back Manson that "Josh was a huge addition to our back end down the stretch and into the playoffs. He played big minutes on our second pairing throughout the postseason, providing a tough, steady presence in the defensive zone while also contributing on the offensive end with some key goals. Getting him under contract for the next four years helps further solidify our blue line."

   Since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Ducks, Manson added size and physicality to the Avalanche blue line, being a sound defender in his own end while occasionally putting up points on the offensive side of the equation, adding an extra 7 points to his totals in 22 games with the Avalanche in the regular season.

   The right shot D Manson is coming off a 4 year deal that saw him make $4.1 million annually. His new deal is a slight pay raise, as he will have an AAV of $4.5 million. He has a full no movement clause for the first two seasons of the deal, and a modified no trade clause for the final two seasons, which is a 12 team no trade list submitted by Manson.

   By locking up Manson, the Avalanche continue a busy offseason. While Andre Burakovsky and Darcy Kuemper are gone, Manson, Artturi Lehkonen, and Valeri Nichushkin have been signed to new deals, and Alexandar Georgiev was acquired from the Rangers.