**Maple Leafs Eyeing Trade for Stanley Cup Champion Forward**
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been linked to a potential trade for Colorado Avalanche forward Ross Colton.
Colton, who was traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Avalanche on June 28, 2023, in a salary cap move, is back in trade rumors due to Colorado’s need to clear cap space. Kevin Papetti of The Athletic believes the Maple Leafs are likely to show interest in Colton.
Papetti’s report follows Colton being placed at No. 8 on DailyFaceoff.com’s trade target board. The website noted that Colorado’s cap challenges, including the need to make room for Gabriel Landeskog and uncertainties surrounding Valeri Nichushkin, might make Colton expendable. Additionally, the Avalanche are focused on re-signing Jonathan Drouin and dealing with Casey Mittelstadt’s contract, further pushing Colton towards the trade market. Colton has no trade protection until July 1, after which his full ‘no-trade’ clause kicks in.
