Colorado Avalanche Could Already Have a Long-Term Winner in Ross Colton Trade

Colorado acquired the No. 74 overall pick in the Ross Colton trade and used it to draft a center that could end up being one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (84) and right wing Valeri Nichushkin (13) and center Ross Colton (20) / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche made a trade about 10 days before the 2026 NHL Draft that has the potential to be remembered long into the future. The Avalanche traded Ross Colton to the Nashville Predators. At first glance, the trade was made to create some salary-cap flexibility for the Avalanche.

In return, Colorado received goalie Magnus Chrona, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft and another third-round selection in 2027, while they sent goalie prospect Isak Posch to Nashville.

Just a few days later, the Avs turned that 2026 third-round pick into Beckett Hamilton, who was the Red Deer Rebels captain. If Hamilton goes on to develop into the two-way NHL Center that the Avalanche believes he can become, the Colton trade could be remembered for far more than just a salary cap relief move.

A Prospect Who Fits the Colorado Identity

Hamilton isn’t the flashiest player the Avs got in the 2026 draft class. Everyone will point to Egor Shilov as having that title.

What Hamilton does do, though, is bring many of the traits that are consistent with Colorado’s displayed values throughout its championship window.

The 18-year-old captain recorded 62 points in 67 Western Hockey League games during the 2025-26 season. But, beyond his offensive production, Hamilton was praised in his scouting reports for his skating, hockey IQ, and defensive awareness. These are all traits the Avs have proven to prioritize, and continue to with their draft picks.

Colorado continuously looks for players who have the potential to compete and impact games in every situation, and Hamilton appears to fit right in with his fierce competitive level.

More Than Just a Draft Pick

Colorado Avalanche left wing Chris Drury (37) in action against New Jersey Devils defensemen Ken Daneyko (3) and Patrik Elias (26) at Continental Airlines Arena. / Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images

Third-round selections in the draft don’t normally get a lot of attention, but history proves that they can become valuable NHL contributors.  Going back several years and digging into that history, Chris Drury is a great example.  He was the 72nd overall draft pick of the 1994 NHL Draft.

Interestingly, he was one of the players that made the transition from the Quebec Nordiques to become the Colorado Avalanche.

Drury went on to be a part of one of the greatest eras of this team’s history. He was one of the players on the 2001 Stanley Cup Championship team. He was also someone the franchise wished they could have kept longer as he moved on during free agency after the 2002-03 season ended.

Some of the league’s most valuable assets are centers who can play responsibly at both ends. Hamilton has the upside to be one of those players, although it may take some time to get him there.

This is what makes the Ross Colton trade even more interesting.

While the recent trade was made to give Colorado some flexibility right now, it also allowed the team to pick up a player who has the potential to help shape the future. If Hamilton develops into a dependable center, Colorado and its fans could view that trade as one that strengthened the organization in more ways than one.

Right now, no one knows what Hamilton will be or even if he will be an NHL regular.  Making the jump from junior hockey to the NHL is a tough one, and it could be years before the actual return is witnessed by the Avs.

But if one player from Colorado’s nine draft picks has the potential to outperform expectations, Hamilton would have to be at the top of the list.