Ross Colton Emerges as a Possible Predators Trade Candidate
The Athletic named Colton as a Nashville trade possibility; his $4 million cap hit and playoff experience could appeal to contenders.
Ross Colton’s combination of middle-six versatility, playoff experience and a $4 million cap hit gives the Nashville Predators a plausible trade option if their season continues to lag. The Athletic identified the former Colorado Avalanche forward as an under-the-radar candidate, though that assessment is speculation, not a report that Nashville is shopping him.
Colton, 30, has one goal and one assist through 10 games this season. That modest production arrives amid a slow start for the Predators, and the source article suggests a wider roster sell-off could become a possibility if Nashville falls clearly outside the playoff picture early. The club’s direction will matter more than Colton’s line on the scoresheet: a team pushing to recover may have little reason to move a useful forward, while a team shifting its focus could listen on players with marketable roles.
Why Colton could draw interest
The Athletic’s case centers on what a buying team might get for the cost. Colton can fill a middle-six role and brings experience in high-pressure playoff games. Those traits could suit a contender looking for depth, particularly if it needs a forward who can contribute without requiring a top-line assignment.
His contract adds another piece to the calculation. Colton is in the final season of a four-year agreement he signed with Colorado in 2023, carrying a $4 million cap hit. The Athletic described that figure as team-friendly and floated the possibility of Nashville retaining half the salary to improve the fit for a potential buyer.
Retention could make a deal easier to structure, but the article gives no indication that Nashville has offered to do so or that any club has made an inquiry. A salary figure that looks manageable on paper still has to fit a contender’s roster and cap situation, and the Predators would need to decide whether a return justifies moving a player who can serve a useful role.
A familiar trade path from Colorado
Colton’s name carries a particular connection for Avalanche fans. Colorado moved him in the offseason in what the source describes as a cap-clearing move that helped create room to re-sign players. That history makes his current situation feel familiar: a useful forward with playoff credentials can become a trade option when a club’s broader roster needs change.
But the circumstances in Nashville are still developing. Colton’s early scoring totals alone don’t establish that he is on the block, and the possibility raised by The Athletic depends in part on where the Predators stand in the playoff race. If the club remains in contention, keeping dependable depth may be more valuable than seeking a future asset. If it falls out of the race, his expiring deal and defined role could make him one of the names to watch.
Colorado’s own roster picture
The Athletic did not identify an under-the-radar trade candidate for Colorado. Its discussion pointed instead to pending unrestricted free agents Artturi Lehkonen and Nicolas Roy, while questioning whether either would fit the club’s longer-term plans. The publication’s view was that a team with Colorado’s championship ambitions should be cautious about moving key contributors.
Mackenzie Blackwood was mentioned as the nearest possible candidate, but the article also stressed the difficulty of trading a goaltender during the season. Colorado would be taking on considerable risk if a move left Scott Wedgewood carrying the full weight of its postseason hopes. The source argues that the Avalanche should protect both goalies rather than disrupt their tandem without a compelling return.
That contrast helps explain why Colton’s name is more relevant to Nashville than to Colorado now. The Avalanche are framed as a team focused on maintaining a roster capable of contending, while the Predators’ slow start raises the possibility of a different calculation. For now, Colton is a speculative name to monitor, with Nashville’s results and direction likely to determine whether the trade discussion gathers substance.
