Ross Colton Bio
Ross Colton is an American professional ice hockey player who plays the center position for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Born on September 11, 1996, in Robbinsville, New Jersey, Colton has been active in the NHL since 2018. He was drafted in the fourth round, 118th overall, by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Colton is widely recognized for scoring the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in 2021, which gave Tampa Bay their third championship in franchise history. After several productive seasons with the Lightning, he was traded to the Colorado Avalanche in June 2023, where he continues to be a dependable middle-six forward.
Early Life and Background
Ross Colton was born and raised in Robbinsville Township, New Jersey, in an athletic household. His father, Rob, played baseball and soccer at Steinert High School, while his mother competed in basketball at McCorristin Catholic High School. Growing up, Colton cheered for the New Jersey Devils and idolized star forward Zach Parise. He attended Sharon Elementary School and Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville before continuing his education at Princeton Day School and later Taft School, a boarding school in Connecticut, where he completed his junior year.
Colton began his organized hockey career with the Mercer Chiefs under head coach Chris Barcless. During the 2012-13 season, he joined the New Jersey Rockets of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League, recording 22 goals and 41 points in 23 games. After being cut from several local festival teams, he trained with Kevin Wagner and continued developing with the Mercer Chiefs before enrolling at Princeton Day School alongside his older brother, Robert. At Princeton, he played both hockey and baseball before transferring to Taft School.
Path to Hockey
Following his junior year at Taft, Colton was selected in the 11th round, 179th overall, by the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He attended and graduated from Washington High School in Iowa while playing for the RoughRiders. During his second USHL season, Colton set a league record for most goals and points at a USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and was named Team East’s Most Valuable Player. He also represented Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, where he scored five points and earned a bronze medal. Entering the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he ranked second in the USHL with 35 goals and 66 points, which led to his selection by the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Ross Colton Career
Early Career (2018-2020)
After being drafted, Colton played two collegiate seasons with the Vermont Catamounts men’s ice hockey team. As a freshman, he skated in 33 games and posted a team-high 12 goals and 15 assists, earning a spot on the Pro Ambitions Hockey East All-Rookie Team. In his sophomore year, he recorded career highs in goals, power-play goals, and points, and notched his first collegiate hat trick on October 7, 2017. Although he initially considered returning to Vermont for a third year, he signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Lightning on June 26, 2018, finishing his college career with 28 goals and 50 points in 69 games.
Colton attended Tampa Bay’s 2018 training camp and was assigned to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League for the 2018-19 season. He scored his first professional goal on October 27, 2018, against the Charlotte Checkers and finished his rookie campaign ranked third on the team with 14 goals and fourth with 31 points. He returned to the Crunch for the 2019-20 season, appearing in every game before the season was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tampa Bay Lightning Breakthrough (2020-2023)
Colton was recalled to the NHL during the 2020-21 season and made his debut on February 24, 2021, scoring a goal in a 3-0 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. He became the ninth player in Lightning history to score in his NHL debut and joined Nikita Kucherov as the only Tampa Bay player to record a game-winning goal in his first game. He finished his debut NHL regular season with nine goals and 12 points in 30 games, then made an immediate impact in the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs. On July 7, 2021, he scored the championship-winning goal in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals, sealing Tampa Bay’s third title in franchise history.
As a restricted free agent, Colton signed a two-year, $2.25 million contract extension on August 9, 2021. In his first full NHL season, he set career highs with 22 goals and 39 points while appearing in 79 games, and added nine points in 23 playoff games as Tampa Bay reached the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. The following year, he played a career-high 81 games, recording 16 goals and 32 points, before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche on June 28, 2023, in exchange for a second-round pick.
Colorado Avalanche Era (2023-Present)
After filing for salary arbitration, Colton signed a four-year, $16 million contract with the Avalanche on July 17, 2023. He made his Colorado debut on October 11, 2023, centering the third line and recording an assist in a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings. On November 4, 2023, he skated in his 200th career NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights, and later that December, he recorded his 100th career NHL point. He finished the 2023-24 regular season with 17 goals, 23 assists, and 40 points in 80 games, ranking second on the team in hits. He appeared in all 11 playoff games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording one goal and four points.
Driving Style and Strengths
Colton is a reliable two-way center known for his scoring touch, hockey IQ, and willingness to play a physical game. He is particularly effective as a depth scorer on the third line, where he has demonstrated an ability to contribute in all three zones. His versatility allows coaches to deploy him in a top-nine utility role, and his willingness to engage physically has made him one of his team’s leading hitters in recent seasons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Colton’s most defining moment came on July 7, 2021, when he scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 2021 Finals. He also became the ninth player in Tampa Bay history to score 20 goals in his first or second NHL season and reached the 100-point and 200-game milestones during his first year in Colorado.
Ross Colton Career Wins
Ross Colton’s most significant victory came in the form of the 2021 Stanley Cup Championship with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he scored the series-winning goal. He has notched numerous individual scoring milestones throughout his professional career, including career-high goal totals in multiple seasons.
NHL Highlights
Colton has played in 327 or more regular-season NHL games across his career, registering consistent offensive production. His most memorable individual performance came in Game 5 of the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals, when his early goal held up as the game-winner. He has also appeared in multiple deep playoff runs, including the 2022 Stanley Cup Final and the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs with Colorado.
Other Wins and Performances
Before turning professional, Colton earned a bronze medal with Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge and was named Team East’s Most Valuable Player at the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. At Vermont, he was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team and earned an All-Star Honorable Mention in his sophomore year.
Ross Colton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ross Colton was raised in an athletic family in Robbinsville, New Jersey. His father, Rob, played baseball and soccer at Steinert High School, and his mother played basketball at McCorristin Catholic High School. His older brother, Robert, also played hockey, and the two teammates briefly played together at Princeton Day School.
Personal Life
Colton grew up as a devoted New Jersey Devils fan and has often cited Zach Parise as his favorite player. He continues to reside in the United States and balances his professional hockey career with his personal interests.
2025 Season Performance
Ross Colton entered the 2024-25 NHL season continuing his role as a top-nine forward with the Colorado Avalanche. Under his four-year contract, he is expected to remain a key contributor on the third line and a leader in physical play, having finished the previous campaign ranked second on the team in hits. His consistent production and playoff experience make him a valuable depth piece for the Avalanche’s championship aspirations.
As the Avalanche push for another deep playoff run, Colton’s ability to provide timely scoring and responsible two-way play will be crucial. His track record in big moments, including the 2021 Stanley Cup-clinching goal, gives the team confidence in his reliability. With the 2025 trade deadline approaching, Colton’s steady presence in the lineup offers stability for a team looking to make another serious postseason push.
