Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Chris MacFarland has officially made his first player move.
MacFarland announced Tuesday that the team acquired forward Ross Colton and goalie prospect Isak Posch from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for the Nashville's 2026 third-round pick, Colorado's previously owned 2027 third-round pick and goalie prospect Magnus Chrona.
Colton, 29, played 73 games with the Avalanche last season, scoring nine goals and 24 points, along with five points in 11 playoff games. The six-year veteran won the Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021 as a rookie. He is the final year of his four-year, $16 million contract.
"We are very excited to add Ross Colton to our forward mix,” MacFarland said in a release. “Ross is a versatile, two-way winger who will add sandpaper and grit into our middle six group"nashvillepredators.com
Posch, 24, is an undrafted goalie who is set to start with the Milwaukee Admirals this season. He served as the Colorado Eagles backup goalie, posting a .891-save percentage and 2.78 goals-against-average with two shutouts. He has yet to start in an NHL game.
"Isak Posch is a talented young netminder who was selected to play in the AHL All-Star game this past year,” MacFarland said. “He is a big goaltender who will add to our already impressive goalie depth."nashvillepredators.com
The move is a desirable one for both teams as it clears up much-needed cap space for the Avalanche, while supplying the Predators with a reliable two-way centerman to strengthen their forward core.
Predators add a gritty center with huge future trade potential
In his first trade with the Predators, MacFarland adds his one of his former players.
Acquiring the center in 2023 was one of his first big moves as a first-time GM for the Avalanche. Colton set a career-high 40 points in his first season with Colorado. He showed signs of regression, dropping to career-low nine goals last season and a low-point total not seen since his rookie campaign. In other areas, he showed growth, ranking third on the Avalanche in hits with 159.
Now on Nashville, Colton has the chance to redeem himself. The middle-six provides him with the brewing grounds for a rebound season. He's surrounded by a selection of promising youngsters like Brady Martin, Joakim Kemell and Vitali Pinchuk. Given his two-way playstyle, he'd fit perfectly in the mix, providing both ample scoring and grit.
The trade is a good move by MacFarland, but it prompts an already existing issue further. Thanks to a clogged veteran center core consisting of Ryan O'Reilly, Steven Stamkos and now Colton, there's a limited number of spots rookie centerman can play on. Luckily for the Predators, he, along with most of their prospects, are versatile and can play on the wing as well.
In the long run, I don't see Colton staying long with the Predators. While he is here to help out with the young forward core, it's likely MacFarland acquired his rights for future trade purposes at the trade deadline. Players like him are valuable assets, and his low AAV, $4 million, can easily be retained and packaged for draft capital.
Overall, MacFarland made an excellent choice bringing on Colton. If it pans out well, he could retain some serious assets in the future.
Add us as a preferred source on Google