Avalanche acquires Ross Colton from Lightning

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has acquired forward Ross Colton from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a second-round selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. Colorado acquired the pick (37th overall) yesterday in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens.

Colton, 26, collected 32 points (16g/16a) in 81 games with Tampa this season. Selected by the Lightning in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft, Colton has totaled 83 points (47g/36a) in 190 career NHL games, all with Tampa. The 6-foot, 194-pound center has added 19 points (10g/9a) in 52 career postseason contests. Colton helped the Lightning capture the Stanley Cup in 2021, scoring the lone, game-winning goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final clinching game over Montreal.

"Ross is a hard-working, two-way center with a championship pedigree," said Avalanche General Manager Chris MacFarland. "He has physicality to his game, is ultra competitive and his versatility will make him a valuable addition to our lineup in a lot of ways."

Colton registered a career-high 22 goals during the 2021-22 campaign, becoming the ninth player in Tampa Bay history to score 20 goals in his first or second NHL season. He finished second among Lightning forwards in hits (153) and ranked second on the team in face-off win percentage (52.2%).

The Robbinsville, New Jersey, native played in 131 career American Hockey League games with the Syracuse Crunch from 2018-21, producing 76 points (26g/50a) and skated in four Calder Cup Playoff contests (1g).

Prior to turning pro, Colton appeared in 69 career NCAA games with the University of Vermont from 2016-18, posting 50 points (28g/22a). As a rookie in 2016-17, he tied for first on the team in goals (12) and earned a selection to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. Colton played two seasons in the USHL with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders from 2014-16, recording 99 points (53g/46a) in 113 career games and serving as team captain in 2015-16.