Avalanche’s Josh Manson to return following seven-game absence due to lower-body injury

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson will make his return to the lineup Thursday versus the San Jose Sharks after missing the past seven games due to a lower-body injury, reports Aarif Deen of Colorado Hockey Now.

Sidelined since early February, Manson has made 43 appearances with the Avalanche this season in which he has scored once and added 12 assists for 13 points coupled with 26 penalty minutes and a minus-nine rating. On the season, Manson also ranks fifth among Colorado defensemen in averaring 18:12 in ice time per game.

Originally chosen by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft, Manson has totaled 621 career contests split between the Ducks and Avalanche in which he has collected 39 goals and 129 assists for 168 points. With the Ducks in 2017-18, Manson set a career-high 37 points coming in 80 games, while last season with the Avalanche was his second-most productive season as he finished with 25 points in 76 contests. The 33-year-old native of Hinsdale, Ill., has also added five goals and 13 assists for 18 points through 58 postseason appearances, underscored by a Stanley Cup win with the Avalanche in 2022.

Per PuckPedia, Manson is in the third year of a four-year contract that carries a $4.5-million annual average value.

Manson rejoins an Avalanche squad in the midst of a three-game winning streak that has improved the club to 36-24-2 on the season as it holds down the first wildcard seed in the Western Conference with 74 points. The Avalanche have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past seven seasons.

Thursday’s contest marks the third and final showdown between the Avalanche and Sharks this season. The Avalanche have won both prior games, including a 4-1 victory in mid-October and a 4-2 decision in mid-December.