{"id":188704,"date":"2025-09-29T00:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T00:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/188704\/"},"modified":"2025-09-29T00:54:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T00:54:11","slug":"avs-coach-looking-at-multiple-options-for-centers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/188704\/","title":{"rendered":"Avs Coach Looking At ‘Multiple Options’ For Centers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s going to get a couple games, and they\u2019re still coming up. I want him to be familiar with it \u2014 with just where we\u2019re 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\u2019re going into the season with multiple options,\u201d Bednar said after Sunday\u2019s practice. \u201cIt\u2019s 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\u2019s working on some of those situations in practice and in games coming up here, so he\u2019s ready to go, if that\u2019s what we choose to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Avs Preseason Win Over Stars Was Useful, Not Exciting<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cFelt weird, I hadn\u2019t played it at all last year, I didn\u2019t 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,\u201d Colton said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting my legs under me, haven\u2019t 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\u2019ll be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Where Will Ross Colton Fit In The Avs Lineup? (+)<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019s practice.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n


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