It could be a daunting task for a hockey player to live up to the name of a father who was one of the most feared players in the NHL. Fortunately for Manson, he has his own style that only vaguely resembles that of his dad, Dave Manson.
Like his father, Josh Manson is a defensive defenseman with a willingness to deliver big hits. But the Anaheim Ducks' sixth-round pick (No. 160) in the 2011 NHL Draft is not the intimidating presence his father was, nor does he try to be. Instead, Josh, who was born near Chicago during his father's time with the Blackhawks and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, plays with a more controlled aggression.
It could be a daunting task for a hockey player to live up to the name of a father who was one of the most feared players in the NHL. Fortunately for Manson, he has his own style that only vaguely resembles that of his dad, Dave Manson.
Like his father, Josh Manson is a defensive defenseman with a willingness to deliver big hits. But the Anaheim Ducks' sixth-round pick (No. 160) in the 2011 NHL Draft is not the intimidating presence his father was, nor does he try to be. Instead, Josh, who was born near Chicago during his father's time with the Blackhawks and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, plays with a more controlled aggression.
Manson made his NHL debut Oct. 31, 2014, against the Dallas Stars. He had one hit and took a delay of game penalty while playing 12:30. Manson got his first NHL point with an assist against the Florida Panthers on Nov. 16, 2014. He played 28 games that season and averaged 18:26 of ice time per game. It was enough for Anaheim to sign him to a two-year contract extension on July 22, 2015.
A more physical Manson emerged in his second NHL season as he led Ducks defensemen with 158 hits. His first NHL goal also came in 2015-16, a game-winner against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Nov. 6, 2015.
Manson made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut April 15, 2016, in Game 1 of Anaheim's first-round series against the Nashville Predators, but a first-period hit by Predators forward Filip Forsberg left him with a separated shoulder and concussion that sidelined him for the rest of the postseason.
Before turning pro, Manson had a successful three-year career at Northeastern University. After finishing second among Northeastern defensemen with seven points in 33 games in 2012-13, Manson was captain in 2013-14, when he was named the best defensive defenseman in Hockey East.
