One of the NHL's top goal scorers officially sidelined after blocking shot

The Colorado Avalanche are bracing for a tough stretch in front of them now as they prepare to be without their current top goal-scorer, Ross Colton. This unmistakable surge in offensive production for him has made him one of the early surprises of the NHL for the 2024-25 season. More noted for his two-way play than his scoring, Colton has taken the league by storm with eight goals in his first 10 games, leading the Avalanche in goals and making himself an early-season player of note.

But the Avalanche's momentum will take a slight hit as Colton is going to miss some time with a foot injury. Following the team's latest loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, head coach Jared Bednar confirmed indeed that Colton had sustained the injury and would be out for a while, though he didn't give the specific time. Though still pending, one report mentioned that Colton was seen leaving the arena in a walking boot, per NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, which certainly doesn't bode well.

The injury happened with 9:38 left in the second period of Saturday's game against the Blackhawks. Colton blocked a shot off his foot and did not return for the final period, finishing the game with 15 minutes of ice time and three shots. It was evident as the Avalanche fell to a 5-5-0 record while searching for consistency early in the season. The team is still waiting to hear more, which may come by the time they take on the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Colton's hot streak was one of the high points this season for the Avalanche, who have been dealing with injuries to other key players. Entering the game against the Blackhawks, Colton had scored in six of nine games played and had eight goals with one assist for nine points. His early-season performance has been likened to his career-best season with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021-22 as he collected 22 goals and 17 assists in 79 games. In his first season with the Avalanche, Colton had a career-high 40 points.

The Avalanche can ill afford to lose another major contributor, certainly not one that has been such an unexpectedly huge part of their early success. Already operating with a roster hurt by injury, the team could very well be staring at a very critical period ahead. They will need to find ways to keep their offense going without his contributions or risk falling further behind in a competitive Western Conference.