Colton blocked a shot in the third period and exited the game after playing only 11:16 time-on-ice with an undisclosed injury. Before leaving the game, Colton recorded four hits and extended his point streak to two games with an assist. His status for Friday's game against the St. Louis Blues remains up in the air.
Colton had 16 goals, 16 assist, 153 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -8 plus/minus through 81 games with Tampa Bay in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $16 million contract ($4,000,000 AAV) with Colorado. The 26-year-old centre was acquired for a 2023 second-round pick back in June and brings 47 goals and 83 points across 190 games played to the Avalanche.
Colton has been a solid middle-6 forward for the Lightning over the last two seasons, scoring 38 goals with 33 assists (71 points) while compiling 341 hits in 160 games. The Avalanche were in desperate need of bottom-6 help, with J.T. Compher, Lars Eller, Evan Rodrigues, Darren Helm, Matt Nieto and Andrew Cogliano all still unsigned and set to become UFAs on Saturday.
Colton missed the Lightnings' previous game due to an upper-body injury but will draw back into the lineup Friday vs. St. Louis. Prior to the injury, the three-year pro was having his best season to date with four goals and nine points along with 14 PIMs through 18 games this season.
Colton missed the last three games while in COVID-19 protocol but is expected to be back in the Lightning's bottom-6 on Tuesday. Colton re-enters the lineup with 14 points (4G / 10A) in 34 games this season.
Colton is a 24-year-old, former fourth-overall pick who has spent the last two years in Syracuse (AHL). He had 42 points (11G / 32A) in 62 games last year and has one goal and two assists in three games to start 2021.
