Predators acquire Ross Colton from Avalanche in deal involving picks
New Nashville Predators president of hockey operations Chris MacFarland is wasting no time in putting his fingerprints on his new roster, and he’s turning to a familiar face to do it.
As announced by the team Tuesday afternoon, the Predators are acquiring veteran forward Ross Colton in a deal with the Colorado Avalanche. Nashville will also receive goaltender Isak Posch while sending goalie Magnus Chrona and third-round picks in both the 2026 and 2027 NHL Drafts.
TRADE 🔄 We've acquired forward Ross Colton and goaltender Isak Posch from Colorado. Full details » preds.club/4wdZj91
The trade is the first made by MacFarland since he left his post as GM of the Avalanche for the elevated role he took in Nashville. He worked out this deal with his former boss, Joe Sakic, who resumed the role of general manager following MacFarland’s departure.
Colton is a veteran of six NHL seasons who has split his time prior to this evenly between the Avalanche and Tampa Bay Lightning. Colton put up a career high of 40 points during his first year in Denver in 2023-24, but his output dipped down to 24 points on 9 goals and 15 assists in 73 regular season games this year. He followed that up with a strong showing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording 5 points in 11 games as the Avs made the Western Conference Final.
For Nashville, the move adds championship pedigree, scoring punch and physicality to a bottom six in need of all three of those traits. After outgoing general manager Barry Trotz sold at the deadline in each of the past two seasons, MacFarland still has plenty of excess draft capital at his disposal to continue adding talent to the current roster if he so chooses.
In each of the past two years under Trotz, the Predators missed out on the postseason. That outcome was expected this season, but it was a surprise in 2025 following a summer where Trotz added veteran talent to a team that made the playoffs the year prior in the form of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault and Brady Skjei.