Avalanche forwards have developed special friendship on and off ice
Two of Colorado's forwards became quick friends when they landed on a new team together.
Avalanche forwards and linemates Miles Wood and Ross Colton were acquired in the offseason and it has been a connection that was meant to be — on and off the ice.
The duo did not know each other before getting to Denver but it was a fateful move for both of them. The two are close in age and had been on their Eastern Conference draft teams for several years before coming to the Avs, so it was a first move for both of them.
Wood was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the fourth round (100th overall) in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft while Colton was taken in the fourth round (118th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2016 Draft.
"Obviously he played for New Jersey, I'm from Jersey so I think we had a little connection there. So obviously it's just being the two new guys on the team," Colton told The Hockey News' Colleen Flynn. "We live in the same building, we started carpooling and stuff and just going to dinner and stuff on the road and just being the new guys I feel like you just kind of gravitate toward each other."
Not only do they have the newness of the team and closeness of living proximity with each other but they're also close in age — Colton is 27 years old and Wood is 28.
"I think when you're both new to the team you kind of flock to each other at first because you share something in common — you don't know the guy ...," Wood said. "Ross is a great kid, close friend of mine and it's been a short, short amount of time but he's got a great heart."
The Robbinsville, New Jersey native said he and his Buffalo, New York native friend share similar personalities which has helped their chemistry on the ice.
"We like to keep it light and then come game time we kind of play the same way. And then we've been playing on the same line for most of the year, we've just been kind of doing everything together," Colton said. "Being friends off the ice having that chemistry kind of translates on the ice definitely."
They have shown that closeness in practice, before and during games and in the locker room with inside jokes and an apparent "bromance," which they both own. It has not been limited to just the two of them — their significant others have developed a friendship as well.
"They definitely know about it, they're very close as well. So we go out, grab some coffee together — all four of us — grab some food around Cherry Creek," Wood said. "It's been nice for her because she doesn't have friends here, she's from Florida, so it's nice to have (Colton's girlfriend) here for her so they can just bond over that and they've become good friends as well."
Wood, Colton on 3rd linemate
The mid-six forwards forged close friendships with former teammates but embrace the uniqueness of the bond they share. There was a chemistry with Logan O'Connor before he was injured but they have a special relationship with their new linemate Zach Parise.
"It's great playing with Zach. You know he's been around the league for a while. I watched him when I was 12 years old," Wood said. "And it was actually Ross's favorite player — Ross being from New Jersey and Zach playing for them for forever — kind of came full circle here and now they're playing together, so it's kind of cool for Ross."
Colton said it's been special for him to play with his childhood idol and he has an incredible amount of respect for Parise as a player and person.
"I remember when we (Lightning) won the Cup, he texted me and I didn't know him at that point, just shot me a nice text 'Congratulations' because he knew I was a big fan ...," Colton said. "He's been great — just kind of talking to him and seeing what he does like after practice, extra work."
While Colton is the only one on that line with a Stanley Cup, it would be fitting for him to win another with the player he grew up emulating and his new found friend.