Ross Colton was not successful at the center position in his first preseason game. But playing him in the middle checked a box for Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar.
“He’s going to get a couple games, and they’re still coming up. I want him to be familiar with it — with just where we’re at and our numbers. I prefer him to be on the wing, but I also want him to get some reps at center. So we’re going into the season with multiple options,” Bednar said after Sunday’s practice. “It’s a lot more work playing center, playing goal line to goal line, but I was pretty comfortable with him there in years past. Just want to make sure that he’s working on some of those situations in practice and in games coming up here, so he’s ready to go, if that’s what we choose to do.”
Colton was scoreless, a minus-1 and had no shots on goal in his 18:48 of ice time. But he excelled in the dot with a 62.5% on faceoffs. While his play was off, the experience was useful.
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“Felt weird, I hadn’t played it at all last year, I didn’t play once in camp, and then kind of just got chucked in the game playing center. Took a little bit of adjustment. I felt fine. Felt a little weird the first two periods, and then in the third, felt like I was a little better, but just a little bit of adjustment,” Colton said.
“Getting my legs under me, haven’t played in like four months. Just getting reps, getting touches, getting in game shape. Felt a little off the first period, maybe a period and a half. And then once the game got going, it felt better. So, excited to get into another game. Just get some more action, get some reps. Got a couple coming up here, so it’ll be nice.”
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Colton played on both power-play units, which did not convert on seven opportunities in the 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. Special teams were a focus in Sunday’s practice.
Colton has developed chemistry with Jack Drury and Victor Olofsson through training camp, so that will likely be the third line. Bednar is still searching for his fourth-line center, which is why he is exploring all options.
