Lightning sign Ross Colton to two-year contract

TAMPA BAY - The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed forward Ross Colton to a two-year contract worth $1.125 AAV, vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.

Colton, 24, skated in 30 games for the Lightning last season, collecting nine goals and 12 points to go along with 16 penalty minutes. The Robbinsville, New Jersey native scored his first career NHL goal in his debut on February 24 against the Carolina Hurricanes. Colton also recorded four game-winning goals, ranking tied for first among all NHL rookies. He also skated in 23 Stanley Cup Playoff games in 2021, posting four goals and six points. Colton scored the lone goal in the Lightning's Stanley Cup-clinching win in Game 5 against the Montreal Canadiens.

The 6-foot, 194-pound forward has played in 131 career AHL games over three seasons with the Syracuse Crunch, posting 26 goals and 76 points to go along with 100 penalty minutes. Colton skated in three games with the Crunch in 2020-21, registering a goal and three points. Prior to joining the Crunch, Colton played two seasons at the University of Vermont, posting 28 goals and 50 points in 69 games.
Colton was originally drafted by the Lightning in the fourth round, 118th overall, at the 2016 NHL Draft.