The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed NCAA forward Ross Colton to a two-year, entry-level contract, ending his collegiate career after just two seasons. Colton will join the Lightning organization and add another highly skilled forward prospect to a Syracuse Crunch team that was already loaded.
Colton, 21, led the University of Vermont last season with 23 points in 36 games, including 16 goals for one of the weaker teams in H-East. Vermont went just 10-20-7, which could have hidden some of the talent that Colton brings to the table. Selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft—his second year of eligibility—Colton exploded in the following season in the USHL, scoring 35 goals and 66 points in 55 games. His ability to put the puck in the net shouldn’t be overlooked, especially now as he joins an organization who specializes in developing overlooked, undersized talent.
Puck protection is Colton’s best attribute, using his relatively low center of gravity and good balance to shield the puck in the offensive zone and work a cycle before taking it to the net. He’ll try to bring those skills to the professional ranks, where the competition for spots on the Crunch will be tough.