Avalanche Promote Juulsen Following Manson Injury
Defenseman Noah Juulsen moves into the lineup as Josh Manson faces an eight-week recovery period.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Hockey
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The Colorado Avalanche have promoted Noah Juulsen to the primary roster to address the defensive void left by Josh Manson. Manson is expected to be sidelined for up to eight weeks following an ankle injury sustained during a recent game against New Jersey.
Why it matters
The loss of a key defenseman creates a significant gap in the team's defensive rotation during a critical stretch of the regular season. The team is relying on roster depth to maintain performance standards while managing long-term injury recovery timelines.
Noah Juulsen is currently under a two-year contract valued at $2.2 million. Josh Manson is facing a recovery timeline of eight weeks following his injury against New Jersey.
The players
Noah Juulsen
A professional defenseman who has been promoted to a primary position within the Colorado Avalanche roster.
Josh Manson
A veteran defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche who is currently sidelined by an ankle injury.
Devin Cooley
A goaltender for the Calgary Flames who has been placed on injured reserve following a game in Edmonton.
Arsenii Sergeev
A player recalled from the AHL by the Calgary Flames to bolster their roster.
William Stromgren
A player recalled from the AHL by the Calgary Flames following recent injuries.
The details
The roster shift comes as the Colorado Avalanche prepare to host the Calgary Flames this Saturday. Calgary is managing its own personnel challenges after placing Devin Cooley on injured reserve due to an injury sustained during a collision in Edmonton.
Timeline
Wednesday, October 28, 2026: Josh Manson and Devin Cooley sustained their respective injuries.
Friday morning, October 30, 2026: Calgary officially placed Devin Cooley on injured reserve.
Saturday, October 31, 2026: The Colorado Avalanche host the Calgary Flames.
Season Trajectory
This roster adjustment reflects the necessity of depth management dictated by the 2026-2027 NHL regular season defensive rotation protocols. The team's ability to maintain defensive stability without Manson will directly influence their standing as they host the Calgary Flames.
The Colorado Avalanche must now fill a significant defensive hole for the next two months, directly impacting the team's defensive pairing depth during the upcoming game. Fantasy managers and fans should monitor updated defensive pairings to see how the team adjusts its strategy against Calgary.
The takeaway
Maintaining roster flexibility remains the most effective strategy for teams facing sudden, multi-week injury absences. Fans should watch for how the defensive pairings evolve during the home game against Calgary to gauge the immediate impact of the roster changes.
Further reading
For more updates on team performance and roster developments, see our Hockey coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Deadspin.
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