A new trade proposal emerged that would send Colorado’s Ross Colton to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Timothy Liljegren and a 2026 third-round draft pick.
Ross Colton seemed like a late bloomer in the NHL, playing his first season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020-2021 Season. Yet, after playing only 30 games in the regular season, he made a showing in the playoffs that produced the Stanley Cup-winning goal. he made a showing in the playoffs that produced the Stanley Cup-winning goal. This was the first time a rookie had done this since Mike Rupp with New Jersey in 2003, and the seventh time ever.
Thinking about this Stanley Cup winning goal from Ross Colton this morning pic.twitter.com/roTyTtGpkY
— Andrew Weiss (@WeissHockeyTalk) August 29, 2022
Ross Colton
7th rookie in history to score a Stanley Cup clinching goal & the first since Mike Rupp (Devils) in 2003#GoBolts pic.twitter.com/80MEQEVUut
— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) July 8, 2021
Colton appeared on the ice in almost every game for the Tampa Bay Lightning for the next two seasons, scoring a total of 83 points in 190 regular season games with the franchise.
He was then traded to the Colorado Avalanche, who in the last season, scored 23 goals and 40 points in 80 games played.
Ross Colton has been traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Colorado Avalanche per @FriedgeHNIC. Colton had pretty good last season and became good middle-six forward in our eyes. We can imagine that Colorado sent 31st or 37th overall draft pick to Tampa Bay. pic.twitter.com/RAQFp9ynly
— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) June 28, 2023
ROSS COLTON ADDS A POWER PLAY GOAL OF HIS OWN #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/hdfR73xwFY
— PrimeMakar8 (@retro_colorado) April 27, 2024
However, one fan thinks he could be better used elsewhere.
On the popular NHL armchair management website PuckPedia, one user decided to involve this Stanley Cup winner in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange, the Colorado Avalanche would receive Timothy Liljegren and a 2026 third-round pick.
Ross Colton is undoubtedly a useful player, but there is no reason for Toronto to continue to add more forwards, especially for a defenseman like Timothy Liljegren. Liljegren played 55 games last season but recorded 23 total points.
With a point-to-game ratio less than ten percent lower in a more effective position, it is already a hard sell. Add the additional $1 million in the salary cap, frankly, they should be getting more than a third-round pick going the other way.
Source: Heavy