Avalanche Blue Line: Josh Manson Out Eight Weeks With Ankle Injury

Colorado Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar announced on Friday that defenseman Josh Manson will sit out for approximately eight weeks due to an ankle injury. The 35-year-old left Wednesday night's 5-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Ball Arena during the first period after falling awkwardly near the Colorado bench. Manson had recorded one goal and four points in his first 13 games this season. Since joining the team before the 2022 trade deadline, he has served as the most consistent physical presence on the defensive unit.

With Manson sidelined, Noah Juulsen is positioned to assume a larger workload. The 29-year-old defenseman skated with Brett Kulak during Friday's practice, a pairing that started the previous night. Juulsen signed a two-year contract worth $2.2 million with the club on July 1. He spent the prior season with the Philadelphia Flyers, playing 52 games after moving through Vancouver, Florida, and Montreal.

The Avs retained all six defensemen from the previous roster, which initially made Juulsen the clear depth option. However, the team has frequently deployed seven defensemen and 11 forwards this season. In a traditional 12-6 lineup, Juulsen might have played only one game, the night Sam Malinski was a healthy scratch. Instead, he has appeared in eight contests so far.

Juulsen has one assist and averages 10 minutes and 38 seconds of ice time per game. That figure is likely to rise as he takes on a more substantial role. "It's definitely different," Juulsen said regarding the adjustment to the team's system. "But I think coming in early for camp and being with everyone and getting to know the systems and everything like that helped. It's not a tough adjustment. There's a lot of guys here helping you out, giving you pointers here and there. I think it's been great."

Bednar expressed satisfaction with Juulsen's performance since his arrival. "He's played really well for us," Bednar said. "He's been a really nice surprise for me. I knew him a little bit, but you never really know what a guy's capable of or what his strengths are until you kind of see him in your organization, in your system and around the room. I love his attitude. He wants to do anything he can to help. He's a real positive guy, and he's played great for us."

Bednar noted that the team has often relied on a recall player for the seventh defensive spot in past years. Having Juulsen in the group daily eliminates the need to bring in new players and explain the system. "It's nice to have him here because he's with our group every day," Bednar said. "There's no bringing guys up to speed. He just jumps right in and continues to play well."