Season Recap: Ross Colton

After the Avalanche acquired him in a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the summer of 2023, Ross Colton hit the ground running.

The 27-year-old New Jersey native set career highs in assists (23), points (40), even-strength points (35), time on ice per game (13:43), faceoff wins (423), and blocked shots (46) in his first season with Colorado. Additionally, he posted 1g/3a in 11 playoff games.

Colton played in 80 games in the 2023-24 regular season, which is the most by a Colorado Avalanche player in his first season with the club since Matt Calvert played 82 games in 2018-19. Additionally, his 91 games between the regular season and playoffs are the most by a player in their first season with the Avalanche since Scott Hannan also played in 91 games in 2007-08.

At even strength, Colton was tied for third among Avalanche in goals (14) and sixth in assists (21). 

He's also one of the fastest skaters in the league, registering 239 speed bursts of at least 20 mph in the regular season and 17 bursts of at least 22 mph, which put him in the 97th and 95th percentiles of NHL skaters, respectively.

Colton recorded his first assist and point with the Avalanche in the season opener against the Los Angeles Kings and his first goal on Oct. 24 against the New York Islanders. His first of six multi-point games came on Nov. 18 in a 6-3 come-from-behind win against the Dallas Stars when he extended a goal-scoring streak to three games and added an assist.

Between the regular season and playoffs, Colton had four different three-game point streaks, including a three-game stretch from Jan. 20 to Jan. 26, all Avalanche wins, where he posted six assists.

Colton enters the 2024-25 season with three years left on his contract. He needs 36 goals to reach the 100-goal plateau for his career and is 27 points shy of 150.