Avalanche avoid arbitration with Colton on 4-year agreement

The Colorado Avalanche signed restricted free-agent forward Ross Colton to a four-year contract, the team announced Monday.

Financial terms weren't officially disclosed, but Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reports the contract features a $4-million average annual value.

Colton had an arbitration hearing scheduled for July 27. The Avalanche acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lighting in late June for a second-round pick and promptly gave him a significant raise, as he earned $1.125 million annually on his previous deal.

"Ross is a hardworking two-way center with a championship pedigree," general manager Chris MacFarland said. "He has physicality to his game, is ultracompetitive, and his versatility will make him a valuable addition to our lineup in a lot of ways."

The Bolts selected Colton in the fourth round of the 2016 draft. He broke into the NHL during the 2020-21 season and scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in his debut campaign.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old has registered 83 points in 190 career games, including 16 goals and 16 assists this past season.