The player previews roll as the summer begins to wane. Today we're looking at one of the Nashville Predators' new additions and exploring exactly what Ross Colton is going to bring to the table for his new team.
Brought in from the Colorado Avalanche by Predators general manager Chris MacFarland, who just so happened to be the former Avs GM, made a quick move to get his guy over to the Predators. The 6'0, 195-pound center played 73 games last season for 24 points (9 goals, 16 assists) across an average of 12 and a half minutes of ice per game.
So, What's HIs Role?
Remember Colton Sissons? Lather, rinse, repeat, but with Ross Colton. In Tampa and Colorado, Colton was in a defensive role, but the sheer offensive firepower inflated his stats. That isn't to say that Colton isn't talented; he is, but 40 points (his previous career high) seems like a lofty goal as he's set to turn 30 before the start of the season.
Now, Colton Sissons did pretty well in the Andrew Brunette system. He had seasons with 30, 35, and 21 points. This was at 29. 30, and 31 years old. It isn't out of the realm of possibility that Ross Colton could do the same, but he'll need to be skating at least 14 minutes a night to do so.
Right now, though, we'll likely be happy if Colton can fare better at replacing Sissons than Michael McCarron did in an elevated role. It's likely that Colton will also have to dig himself out of defensive zone starts as well.
What Can We Expect?
Colton is a play driver. He's never recorded a Corsi under 55% since he became an NHL regular. He's quick and will average at least two hits a game, while his motor helps him keep teams hemmed in offensively. He'll take plenty of shots too.
Last season, Colton's shooting % fell to just 9%. He was snake-bitten the entire year. It seems that he's bound to break his slump and get back into the 15-goal range that he's lived in previously. The only thing that might hold Colton back is that 30-year-old hump.
Colton doesn't exactly play a game that will age well. His effectiveness has probably already passed its peak. It doesn't mean that he can't produce, just that he might have to start emphasising the defensive part of his game if he wants to keep his spot in the lineup.
Another key will be how he can manage faceoffs. For a center, this is one of the most important aspects of his job. For Colton, it's far from the strongest facet of his game.
Ross Colton is seeking to become an effective member of the Nashville Predators, and things should be set up in his favor going into the season. It will be up to him to make sure that he's placed in a role where he can excel and maximize the things that he does well on the ice.
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