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The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche last week, in exchange for a 2022 second-round pick and prospect Drew Helleson.
Manson is 30 years old and was a top-four defenseman for the Ducks, playing in 45 games with the team this season and 453 games with Anaheim over his career. He was on an expiring contract and is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
The trade was the first major move for the Ducks ahead of the deadline. Manson’s been a solid defender for Anaheim for a long time but with the Ducks rebuilding and Manson on the wrong side of 30 years old, this was an obvious move for the team to make, in order to build for the future. It definitely leaves the Ducks with another hole in their defense group (especially with Hampus Lindholm gone too), but this is something the Ducks can sort out in the offseason.
As for the return, it was fair. I compare it a bit to the Alec Martinez trade to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020, where the Los Angeles Kings got two second-round picks back. Both Manson and Martinez were veteran defenders with limited term remaining and instead of two second-round picks for Manson, the Ducks get a second-round pick and a prospect who was already taken in the second round.
Helleson is just 20 years old and has posted solid numbers at Boston College. He’s making the transition to the AHL and that’ll be a good test to see where he’s at.
Even if the Ducks almost surely would’ve gotten more for Manson a few years ago, I was a bit worried they wouldn't get as much as they did and overall, it’s still a solid return for Anaheim. The trade was a good first step in acquiring future assets at the deadline and while Manson will be missed on the blue line, it was certainly the right move.
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