The Colorado Avalanche have signed restricted free agent forward Ross Colton to a four-year contract extension, the club announced Monday afternoon.
Colton, 26, collected 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 81 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2022–23 regular season. He added one goal and four points in six games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Avalanche acquired Colton from the Lightning on June 27 in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 37 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Colton’s new deal with the Avalanche runs through the end of the 2026–27 season, buying three UFA years, and carries a $4 million average annual value.
“Ross is a hard-working, two-way center with a championship pedigree,” Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said when his team acquired Colton. “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.”
The Lightning originally selected Colton in the fourth round (No. 118 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The six-foot center, who shoots left, spent his first two post-draft seasons at the University of Vermont before turning pro in 2018.
Colton made his NHL debut with the Lightning in the 2020–21 regular season, collecting nine goals and 12 points in 30 games. He went on to appear in all 23 games during the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the Lightning capture their third championship (and the second in as many years).
The following year, Colton completely emerged as a full-time NHLer with the Lightning and scored 22 goals and 39 points in 79 games. He dressed for 23 more playoff games in 2022 as the Lightning returned to the Stanley Cup Final, only to be defeated in six games by the Avalanche.
Through 190 career NHL games over parts of three seasons with the Lightning, Colton has collected 47 goals and 83 points. He’s added 10 goals and 19 points in 52 career playoff contests.
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