The Tampa Bay Lightning are trading forward Ross Colton to the Colorado Avalanche, per Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. Colton, 26, is still a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. The Avalanche will need to sign him to a new contract or go to arbitration. Tampa Bay was going to have a tough time signing Colton, who has potential as a solid bottom-6 forward.
Colton was a fourth-round pick back in 2016, playing two seasons at the University of Vermont before signing his entry-level contract with the Lightning in 2018. He spent a few seasons playing for Syracuse in the AHL before coming up to the NHL in 2020. Colton scored 12 points in 30 games in his first season and was a key part of the Stanley Cup championship team in 2021. He had nine points in 23 playoff games in 2022, when the Bolts lost the Cup to the Avs.