Lightning trade Ross Colton's rights to Avalanche for 2nd-round pick

The Tampa Bay Lightning dealt the rights to forward Ross Colton to the Colorado Avalanche for the 37th overall pick in this year's draft, the teams announced Wednesday.

Colton is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, according to CapFriendly. The Lightning have only $450,000 of wiggle room under the salary cap ceiling.

The New Jersey-born skater, who turns 27 in September, played his first three NHL seasons with the Lightning. Tampa Bay drafted him 118th overall in 2016. As a rookie, he helped the Bolts win their second straight Stanley Cup championship with four goals and two assists in 23 playoff games.

Colton produced 16 goals and 16 assists over 81 games this past season. He collected 22 tallies and 17 helpers across 79 contests in 2021-22, and registered nine goals and three assists over 30 games in the 2020-21 campaign.

Colorado acquired the 37th pick in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday. The Avalanche sent forward Alex Newhook's rights to the Habs in exchange for selections No. 31 and 37 and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother.