"Probably Colton or Mangiapane""Ross Colton": Hockey fans debate over the most in-demand forward to include in their team

Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton has fans' approval as a forward they'd most want on their team after an NHL post on X (formerly Twitter). The post showed four players and asked fans to pick their favorite.

Ross Colton had 17 goals and 23 assists for 40 points last season. Philipp Kurashev, a Chicago Blackhawks center, finished with 18 goals, 36 assists and 54 points.

Andrew Mangiapane, a Washington Capitals winger, scored 14 goals and 26 assists, making 40 points. Chandler Stephenson, a forward with the Seattle Kraken, recorded 16 goals, 35 assists, and 51 points.

Hockey fans shared their thoughts on which player could help their team the most.

"Probably Colton or Mangiapane. The other 2 guys are really really bad," one fan said.

"Ross Colton," another fan commented.

"Ross Colton, only because I pulled a nice rookie card of his, and now that he IS on my team, I'd rather keep him there," a fan tweeted.

Here are some more reactions from NHL fans on X.

"Stephenson. I like Kurashev, but he played with Bedard, that pumped numbers. Similar to when Rob Brown played on Mario’s line back in the day," one X user commented.

"Since he's on my team already Kurashev can't wait for tomorrow so I can get my Kurashev jersey back customization," a fan said.

"Kurashev - young, talented, dynamic forward with a lot of potential," a fan tweeted.

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Top heavy Colorado Avalanche struggling in depth despite retaining Ross Colton

The Colorado Avalanche ended the 2023-24 hockey season with a 50-25-7 record, placing third in the Central Division. Nathan MacKinnon led the team, scoring a franchise-record 140 points in 82 games. His performance earned him both the Hart and Lindsay trophies.

MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar played key roles, despite injuries to Valeri Nichushkin and Gabriel Landeskog.

Alexander Georgiev had mixed results. He led the league in wins but struggled with a .897 save percentage and a 3.02 GAA. Justus Annunen could see more starts if Georgiev’s play doesn’t improve.

The team remains top-heavy, relying on MacKinnon, Rantanen, and Makar. Newcomers Jonathan Drouin and Casey Mittelstadt need to step up, and the team hopes rookie Nikolai Kovalenko will make an impact. They have also retained forward Ross Colton despite trade rumors before free agency.

Injuries are still a concern. Gabriel Landeskog is recovering with no clear return date, and Valeri Nichushkin's future is uncertain due to off-ice issues. The Avalanche's depth will be tested again. If their stars stay healthy, they should remain competitive.