The first big domino of the Lightning offseason has fallen.
The day of the 2023 NHL Draft, the Lightning traded restricted free agent Ross Colton to the Colorado Avalanche for a 2023 2nd round draft pick.
Colton spent three seasons in Lightning blue, putting up 89 points in 190 regular season games. Colton also put up 10 goals and 19 points in 52 playoff games, including the 2021 cup-winning goal.
Heading into an offseason in which they had $7.325M in cap space and two important RFAs (Colton and Tanner Jeannot) and one big UFA (Alex Killorn), the Lightning probably weren't going to keep all of them. With Colton expected to get a raise from the $1.125M he made on his bridge deal, the Bolts were in position to cut bait and get something of value back. The 37th overall selection is Montreal's original selection, and was acquired by Colorado the day prior in the Alex Newhook trade
Currently, the Lightning have 17 members on the main roster.
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