TAMPA, FL - JULY 7: Ross Colton #79 of the Tampa Bay Lightning celebrates a goal against the Montreal Canadiens during the second period of Game Five of the Stanley Cup Final of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena on July 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida.

Lightning, Ross Colton avoid arbitration with 2-year deal

5 years ago

Mark LoMoglio / National Hockey League / Getty

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ross Colton agreed to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $1.125 million, the team announced Monday.

Colton was a restricted free agent with a salary arbitration hearing scheduled for next Monday.

The New Jersey-born center, who turns 25 in September, scored the lone and eventual Stanley Cup-clinching goal during the second period of the Lightning's Game 5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens last month.

Colton recorded nine goals and three assists in 30 regular-season games as a rookie in 2021 before contributing four markers and two helpers over 23 postseason contests. He's been in Tampa Bay's system since 2018-19. The club drafted him 118th overall in 2016.

The Lightning are now nearly $7 million over the salary cap, but they're allowed to surpass it to that degree because Brent Seabrook is stashed on the long-term injured reserve.

With Colton signed at $1.125M per @FriedgeHNIC, #TBLightning are $6.865M over Cap with 22 Players on Projected Roster (13F/7D/2G).

Can exceed cap by up to $6.875M w/ Seabrook on LTIR, leaving them $9,045 of Cap Space potentially available.https://t.co/ZSSicftRcw
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) August 9, 2021

Seabrook ended his career due to injury in March. The Chicago Blackhawks traded his contract to the Lightning for forward Tyler Johnson and a 2023 second-round pick in late July.