TRADE ANALYSIS: Avalanche acquire big, tough D-man Manson; was Helleson in return too much?

Well, remember when we said earlier how the Avalanche weren’t calling anyone up from the minors because of cap space issues? Well, I’m sure Joe Sakic and Jared Bednar already knew they would soon be getting a new player to the team. That player, it turned out, is big, veteran defenseman Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks.

In a deal done about a half-hour ago, the Avs acquired Manson in exchange for good prospect defenseman Drew Helleson and the team’s second-round pick in 2023.