"We thank Josh Manson and wish him the absolute best. He is a character person and player, and will help Colorado down the stretch," said Pat Verbeek, Ducks General Manager. "We're excited to welcome Drew Helleson to the organization. He is a top defenseman in his age group, and has played in big situations on the international stage at the Olympics and recently won a gold medal at the World Junior Championship."
Helleson, 20 (3/26/01), represented Team USA at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, recording one assist in three tournament contests. He has recorded 4-21=25 points and 30 penalty minutes (PIM) in 32 games as a junior this season with Boston College (Hockey East).
The 6-3, 204-pound defenseman has collected 19-37=46 points with a +26 rating in 82 career NCAA games with Boston College. He was named to the NCAA Second All-American Team, a Hockey East First Team All-Star and the Best Defensive Defenseman in 2021 after scoring 4-11=15 points with a +23 rating in 22 games. He ranked third among all NCAA skaters in plus/minus.
Originally selected by Colorado in the second round (47th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft, Helleson recorded 10-53=63 points with the U.S. National Team Development Program's U-17 and U-18 teams from 2017-19. A native of Farmington, Minn., Helleson helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2021 World Junior Championship, scoring 2-2=4 points with a +9 rating in seven tournament games to lead all defensemen in goals. He also helped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2018 World U-17 Hockey Challenge and bronze at the 2019 U-18 World Championship.
Manson, 30 (10/7/91), recorded 26-87=113 points with a +39 rating and 431 penalty minutes (PIM) in 453 career games with the Ducks. The 6-3, 218-pound blueliner earned 4-5=9 points and 53 PIM in 45 games with Anaheim in 2021-22. In 2017-18, Manson set career highs in scoring (7-30=37), goals, assists and plus/minus (+34). He has also appeared in 22 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording three assists (0-3=3) and 20 PIM.
Selected by Anaheim in the sixth round (160th overall) of the 2011 NHL Draft, Manson played three seasons with Northeastern (Hockey East) from 2011-14. In 99 career games with the Huskies, the Hinsdale, Ill. native compiled 6-15=21 points with a +12 rating with 158 PIM. He concluded his collegiate career by being named a Hockey East Second Team All Star and the Best Defensive Defenseman after captaining Northeastern to a 19-14-4 record in 2013-14.
