One of the most speculated-about scenarios at every trade deadline is one where a team, out of the playoff race, trades away an important pending free agent only to re-sign him a few months later. After all, why not lease the player for a nice deadline return of future assets, that make the team even stronger upon his return.
In practice, this rarely happens. Those deadline additions are either extended by their new team or reach free agency and suddenly find themselves surrounded by new suitors.
This year, it appears the Anaheim Ducks will be trying to pull off the unlikely scenario of bringing back a sold-off veteran. Pierre LeBrun reports on TSN’s Insider Trading that Anaheim has an interest in a reunion with Josh Manson, once his run to the Stanley Cup Final is finished with the Colorado Avalanche.
Manson, 30, has been a nice addition for the Avalanche, giving their defense corps some additional snarl while adding some nice (and likely unexpected) offense at key moments. As LeBrun notes though, it will be very difficult for Colorado to retain him, given how many other free agents they have on the roster–some of which they’re hoping to sign after the playoffs come to an end.
Meanwhile, Manson had seen his reputation around the league take a bit of a hit in recent years, as his minutes and effectiveness waned in Anaheim. That doesn’t mean the Ducks are done with him though, as he is extremely well-liked in that dressing room and could still be a nice veteran piece to help the team transition into the next phase of their build.
Currently carrying a $4.1MM cap hit, it will be interesting to see what Manson can command on the open market. His playoff performance has only driven his value back up but defensemen who don’t offer much offensively rarely get big paydays–at least in relative terms–in free agency.
Why is this out there now? Dude is in the final. Leave him be for another week. Anaheim is trash for putting this out there
Time to quit whining. Pierre LeBrun put it out there, not the Ducks organization. Oh, and there is not a ban on news during the final. Lighten up a bit.
Go back to watching junior hockey.
Anaheim is “trash” for putting this out there?
LOL, why you mad bro? Got news for you kid, this is how it works and I doubt the front office decided to officially put anything out. Also, I am pretty sure Manson already know other teams beside the Avalanche will be interested in his services. If you can’t handle sports maybe you should go back to your video games. I hear there is a stellar version of Chutes and Ladders for the Nintendo.
In the last 11 months the Avs have traded away their top 3 right shot D prospects – Conor Timmins a 1st and a 3rd for Kuemper, Justin Barron and a 2nd for Lehkonen and Drew Helleson and a 2nd for Manson himself. Does it seem to anyone that Sakic would do that and then let Manson (a right shot D) walk? Yeah, me neither.
Yes, it’s going to be ‘very difficult’ for the Avs to sign all their free agents. They’ll very likely (and sadly) let Kadri and Burakvosky walk and sign Nichushkin, Kuemper and Manson. Lehkonen will get at least QO’d and quite possibly extended further and to quote Joe Sakic, MacKinnon will get extended as soon as possible after July 1st.
Why the hell would they bring back Kuemper? He has shown these playoffs the big stage is too big for him. He’s the only reason they haven’t gone undefeated through the playoffs. Francouz isn’t great, but he’s better than Kuemper. And all they need is adequate goaltending play to win. No way they pursue Kuemper again. That money would be better served spent elsewhere.
I remember somebody on Reddit vehemently stating that Manson would likely return to Anaheim this summer (like immediately after the trade). I thought it off like everyone else, but interesting to see this now.