Colorado Avalanche acquire forward Ross Colton from Tampa Bay Lightning

The Colorado Avalanche have acquired forward Ross Colton from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 37 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Wednesday morning.

Colton, 26, collected 16 goals and 32 points in 82 games with the Lightning during the 2022–23 regular season. He added a goal and three assists in six games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Avalanche originally acquired pick No. 37 on Tuesday as part of the Alex Newhook trade with the Montreal Canadiens. Colorado also received pick No. 31 and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother in the trade.

Colton is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. He’s due a one-year, $737,500 qualifying offer on June 30.

The Lightning originally selected Colton in the fourth round (No. 118 overall) of the 2016 NHL Draft. The six-foot center made his NHL debut with the Lightning in the 2020–21 season and won the Stanley Cup that same year.

After scoring four goals and six points in 23 games during Tampa Bay’s 2021 Stanley Cup run, Colton established himself as an NHL regular during the 2021–22 season. He recorded 22 goals and 39 points in 79 games before adding five goals and nine points in 23 playoff contests as the Lightning returned to the Stanley Cup Final.

Through 190 career NHL games over parts of three seasons with the Lightning, Colton has racked up 47 goals and 83 points. The Robbinsville, N.J. product has added 10 goals and 19 points in 52 career playoff games.

The Colton deal is the latest for an Avalanche team that has been busy in the days leading up to the draft. After acquiring Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators on June 24, the Avs dealt Newhook to the Canadiens on Tuesday.