Grading the Ducks-Avalanche Josh Manson-Drew Helleson trade

The Trade

The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Josh Manson to the Colorado Avalanche on Monday in exchange for defenseman Drew Helleson and Colorado’s second-round pick in 2023. 

Here’s my assessment of how the teams fared in this swap:

Colorado Avalanche analysis

The Avalanche are a team that had to be all-in at this year’s deadline, and Manson is a nice pickup for them. Colorado hasn’t really had a punishing defenseman since Nikita Zadorov left in free agency after the 2019-20 season, so I think Manson fills a significant stylistic void. He brings a different element.

Think back to what Nathan MacKinnon said last year after the playoff loss to Vegas: "We got put on our heels." That heavy style of play becomes crucial in the playoffs, particularly since much of the Avs’ defense corps is of the small, puck-moving variety.

Manson is still a decent skater and only 30. Although his production and overall metrics have slipped from where they were a few years ago, he can still provide solid minutes and be a good complement to the fleet-of-foot group the Avs have now with the likes of Cale Makar, Samuel Girard and Devon Toews.

Plus, with Bowen Byram questionable to return this season following his concussions, the Avalanche needed another reliable blue-liner. Manson can be that and more. The Avs’ prospect cupboard is getting a little bare, so parting with a prospect and a second-round pick isn’t ideal.

But with the Ducks retaining half of Manson’s salary, the Avalanche have been able to upgrade their team at a relatively reasonable cost, and they should now have enough salary cap flexibility remaining to target a key forward addition up front.

For Joe Sakic, this is a gamble easily worth taking as they go for broke.

Gear’s Grade: A

Anaheim Ducks analysis

New Anaheim GM Pat Verbeek appears to be staying true to his word: He isn’t going to let his UFAs walk for nothing, even with his team still hanging on to playoff aspirations in the Western Conference.

Selling on a player with market popularity and leadership in the dressing room could not have been easy, but it’s the right play for a team that is on the rise but not yet able to consistently compete with the league’s best. The Ducks effectively got two second rounders for Manson, as Helleson was Colorado’s second-round pick in 2019.

The bonus for Anaheim is that Helleson is close to being a fully formed prospect after spending three seasons at Boston College, so he won’t be far off from competing for a roster spot. Helleson’s 25 points in 32 NCAA games this year are decent production for a kid not known for offense.

Our Daily Faceoff prospect analyst Chris Peters believes Helleson is trending toward a No. 4 or No. 5 defenseman in an NHL lineup once fully formed. Peters projects him to be an NHL regular by 2023-24.

The scouting report on Helleson is that he is a decent puck handler who makes very few mistakes and has good compete level. He is also a right-shooting defenseman, that elusive trait that teams search for like gold – the same handed defenseman the Ducks gave up in Manson.

The 2023 second rounder also being acquired in the deal will likely be a pick toward the end of that round, assuming the Avalanche stay near the top of the league next year. So, while 2023 is shaping up to be a strong draft class according to experts, the success of this transaction for the Ducks will likely hinge on what Helleson can bring to their blue line.

Overall, I think it’s a good return. What’s even more interesting is that Manson was rumored to want to stay in Anaheim. Perhaps that ship has sailed now. If not, and Verbeek could re-sign Manson in the summer after mining a pick and a prospect from Colorado for renting him, the deal might look even better.

Gear’s Grade: B+