Former Blues GM Ron Caron once shouted edgy Blackhawks D-Man was "Mike Keenan's illegitimate son" during game in Chicago Stadium.
Off the ice, defenseman Dave Manson came to the Blackhawks as calm, approachable small-town Canadian kid. On the ice, he often was anything but, especially at the start of a 16-year NHL career that began in 1986-87 in Chicago when he was 19.
Manson was the Blackhawks' first-round draft pick, taken 11th overall, in 1985. He had talent befitting that selection.
Manson could not only skate the puck out of trouble, he could jump into or even lead a rush at times. He had a wicked shot. See this highlight video with announcers Pat Foley and Dale Tallon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA0-sem6MQs
Like many young defensemen, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound native of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan might make coverage mistakes or turn the puck over early in his career, but he rounded into a much steadier blueliner.
There’s more.
Manson eagerly punished opponents’ top players with hits ranging from “clean and hard” to ones that went that drew penalties and responses. Conversely, he'd jump to the aid of teammate that had been targeted.
Manson fought 72 times in his career, 52 as a Blackhawk. The D-man rolled up 1,322 of his 2,792 penalty minutes with Chicago, including 352 and 301 in back-to-back seasons (1988-89 and 89-90) on aggressive teams coached by Mike Keenan.
When he arrived with the Blackhawks, Manson was often paired with Behn Wilson, considered an edgy character. Manson was tested early and became even edgier.
“Nobody was going down (Wilson’s) side,” Manson told the Edmonton Journal. “I saw a lot of traffic on mine. Let’s try the kid. I was able to make it work.”
Manson often was at the center of the action in games against Chicago’s division rivals of the time, St. Louis, Detroit, Toronto and the Minnesota North Stars. He took on the big-name boxers of the era, tangling with Joey Kocur three times, Bob Probert twice and Minnesota’s Basil McRae five times. See the video for one the bouts. https://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/51577
“Mike Keenan’s Illegitimate Son”
The late Ron Caron, the Blues general manager for 11 seasons, infamously let his hockey passions flare wildly – shouting and turning red in the face – in the press box during games. He railed largely at officials, but nothing and no one were off-limits.
After Manson had nailed a St. Louis player in a contest at the Chicago Stadium, Caron jumped up and repeatedly screamed “Dave Manson is Mike Keenan’s illegitimate son!” (BTW: Caron was seated next to reporters, usually me, in the old Stadium press box. He eventually played a role in hiring Keenan to coach the Blues in 1994.)
Manson’s vocal cords were damaged when he was punched in the throat by Sergio Momesso. Despite two surgeries, he still speaks with a with a soft, raspy voice.
And he sometimes fought with more than his fists; part of the reason he was nicknamed “Charlie” Manson.
In a fight with Washington’s Scott Stevens on Feb. 27, 1990, Manson was accused of biting after he said Stevens tried to gouge his eye. Manson did throw his glove in the battle, but not to signal surrender. See the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiqrjuImK4U
Stevens was given a match penalty while Manson received a gross misconduct and match penalty. The fracas resulted in Manson and Stevens each being suspended for three games “for biting and scratching.”
Earlier that season, Manson had been suspended for 13-games because of his role in a brawl at the end of a game in Toronto in December 1989. He was slapped with three games for shoving linesman Ron Finn to the ice as he charged to the aid of Denis Savard in a fight with Gary Leeman. He got 10 games for returning to the ice after being escorted off the playing surface.
The Next Generation
Manson’s son Josh, now 31, was born in suburban Hinsdale, Illinois while Dave was with the Blackhawks. Josh Manson is a solid stay-at-home D-Man for the Colorado Avalanche and has never had more than 82 penalty minutes in a season.
But Josh has fought 25 times in eight seasons with Colorado and Anaheim, including last October against former Blackhawk Sam Lafferty. See video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcsz-0h8fOs
Meanwhile, Dave Manson has calmed down, a lot.
He became an assistant, then associate coach of his former junior team, the WHL Prince Albert Raiders, over 12 seasons starting in 2002. Manson then moved to assistant with the AHL Bakersfield Condors, the Edmonton Oilers farm club, for four seasons.
Manson joined the Oilers as an assistant in 2022 under Jay Woodcroft and nowadays works closely with the organization’s defensemen. He gets rave reviews for teaching things such as stick positioning, playing angles, maintaining gaps, reading plays for offensive engagement etc.
Just not, officially, when to drop the gloves.