Nashville Predators · Center · Shoots L

Ross Colton

Age 30 · 6'0" · 194 lb · Born in Robbinsville, USA

Cap hit

$4M

3.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$280K

vs. $4.28M market estimate

Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source

2026-27 regular season

Goals

0.0% shooting

Assists

0 primary

Points

0.00 per game

TOI/GP

13:47

PP 0:39 · PK 0:00

Plus/minus

Hits

Blocks 2

PIM

Game Score

+0.20

per game

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

Game	G	SOG	HIT	BLK	TOI	PP	PK	FO	OZS%	GV	+/-	GS
Oct 3 vs DAL · W 2-1	0	0	3	2	15:19	0:00	0:00	—	50	1	0	+0.13
Oct 1 vs MIN · L 3-1	0	2	6	0	12:15	1:18	0:00	—	50	1	0	+0.28
May 26 @ VGK · L 2-1	0	1	2	0	8:50	0:00	0:00	—	0	0	-1	-0.04
May 24 @ VGK · L 5-3	0	1	4	0	8:29	0:00	0:00	0-2	100	0	-1	-0.27
May 22 vs VGK · L 3-1	1	1	1	0	8:18	0:00	0:00	1-0	100	1	+1	+1.15

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 835 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%58.9%

97th percentile

Relative xGF%+0.8

58th percentile

HDCF%61.8%

95th percentile

CF%58.6%

98th percentile

Relative CF%+3.2

85th percentile

FF%59.0%

98th percentile

GF%55.3%

76th percentile

CF/6076.0

100th percentile

CA/6053.7

78th percentile

ixG/601.31

77th percentile

Goals above expected-9.2

1st percentile

IPP52.4%

17th percentile

PDO98.2

30th percentile

OZS%46.5%

31st percentile

Faceoff %47.2%

51 won · 57 lost (all strengths)

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleRelentless two-way forward

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Colton is a high-octane scorer who lives at the perimeter, ripping shots constantly while hunting pucks aggressively down low. His engine never stops, but he struggles to protect the puck and can get caught out of position defensively.

Shoot-first scorerRelentless forecheckingHigh-volume shooter

Shooting volume: 99
Playmaking: 64
Zone entries(est.): 78
Forechecking: 89
Physicality: 81
Defensive impact: 47
Puck management: 36
Speed: 90

Where he shoots from

Slot 41% · Mid-range 40% · Perimeter 19%(240 unblocked shots)

Strengths

Shooting volume in the 99th percentile, constantly putting pucks toward goal
Forechecking in the 89th percentile, winning puck battles down low consistently
Speed in the 90th percentile helps him apply constant pressure on opponents

Watch-outs

Puck management in the 36th percentile, turning it over more than peers
Defensive impact in the 47th percentile, not consistently stopping scoring chances

Similar style: Bobby McMann (SEA), Boone Jenner (WSH)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

NHL regular season NHL playoffs All leagues

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	PPP	GWG	SOG	S%	TOI	FO%	GS/GP
2020-21	Tampa Bay Lightning	30	9	3	12	+3	16	0	0	4	46	19.6	10:34	48.6	—
2021-22	Tampa Bay Lightning	79	22	17	39	+4	24	1	5	4	159	13.8	12:48	52.2	—
2022-23	Tampa Bay Lightning	81	16	16	32	-8	50	4	9	3	153	10.5	12:21	56.1	+0.54
2023-24	Colorado Avalanche	80	17	23	40	-8	61	3	5	2	146	11.6	13:43	51.6	+0.59
2024-25	Colorado Avalanche	61	16	13	29	-1	18	5	7	3	125	12.8	14:25	40.2	+0.63
2025-26	Colorado Avalanche	73	9	15	24	+9	13	0	0	2	153	5.9	12:31	47.2	+0.50
2026-27	Nashville Predators	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	0.0	13:47	—	+0.20
Career	7 seasons	406	89	87	176	-1	184	13	26	18	784	11.4	12:55	—

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team. GS/GP is our Game Score per game.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

Morning Skate: Ross Colton
NHL.com · Oct 3
Media Availability: Ross Colton
NHL.com · Sep 30

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

+0.9

+0.9MIN5/5

+0.3

+0.3MIN5/9

+1.4

+1.4MIN5/11

+0.2

+0.2MIN5/13

+1.1

+1.1VGK5/20

+1.1

+1.1VGK5/22

-0.3VGK5/24

-0.0VGK5/26

+0.3

+0.3MIN10/1

+0.1

+0.1DAL10/3

Average +0.51 per game over these 10.

Where his Game Score comes from

+0.50 per game

2025-26 · 73 GP

Season total +36.5, or +0.50 per game.

Scoring: +18.5
Shooting: +11.5
5-on-5 goals: +1.2
Defense: +0.8
Penalty kill: +0.1
Physical play: +4.4
Puck battles: -1.6
Penalties: +1.7
Faceoffs: -0.1

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2025-26, as of Oct 2

Top speed: 23.1 mph; 89th pct
20+ mph bursts: 194
Hardest shot: 94.1 mph; 95th pct
Distance: 159.1 mi
OZ time: 43.2%; 65th pct
DZ time: 38.3%

Usage

Last game: vs DAL, Oct 3

Line 2 with Jonathan Marchessault and Mavrik Bourque (8:32 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Age curve

At 30: 84% of peak

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 30, forwards typically produce 84% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

1 season left

Season	Team	Cap hit	% of cap
2026-27	NSH	$4M	3.8%

UFA after 2026-27. $4M in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).