Colton Sissons

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Sissons concluded his major junior ice hockey career in 2013 upon joining the Predators' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals. While centering the Admirals' first line, Sissons was selected for the 2014 AHL All-Star Game after being tied for second amongst league rookies with 13 goals. Sissons completed his first professional season by appearing in 17 NHL games and tallying four points with the Predators. Prior to the start of the 2015–16 season, Sissons became the youngest player in franchise history to be named captain of the Admirals. In his first year of NHL draft eligibility, Sissons finished his second season in the WHL with 26 goals, including a team-leading 13 power play, through 58 games as the Rockets finished in sixth place in the Western Conference. He was named captain of Team Orr for the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game after tallying 25 goals and 36 points through 48 games. Leading up to the 2012 NHL entry draft, Sissons was ranked 14th amongst all North American skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. He was eventually drafted 50th overall by the Nashville Predators and signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team. Sissons was returned to the Rockets for the 2012–13 season, where he scored 28 goals and 39 assists through 61 games. During the season, he was invited to participate in Team Canada's national junior team training camp but had to pull out after suffering a left arm injury. Despite this, he was named the Rockets MVP and top defensive forward for the season.

In Their Own Story

After attending the Predators' 2013 training camp, Sissons was re-assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, for the 2013–14 season. While centering the Admirals first line, he tallied his first professional point, an assist, in his debut game. Prior to turning 20, Sissons had recorded four goals and two assists in his first eight games to be tied for second in scoring across the team. His maturity earned him praise from Admirals coach Dean Evason, who said: "It's as if he's been a 10-year pro in how he goes about his business, how he prepares for games, and how he is with his teammates off the ice." As the season continued, Sissons continued to produce and recorded a five-game point streak from November 9 through November 13. By January, he was tied for second amongst league rookies with 13 goals and was subsequently selected for the 2014 AHL All-Star Game. As a result of his play, Sissons earned his first NHL recall on January 27, 2014, He subsequently made his NHL debut the following evening, registering an assist to help the Predators to a 4–3 win over the Winnipeg Jets. Sissons played 10:49 of ice time and finished with a +1 rating. His point marked the first assist from a Predators rookie in his NHL debut since Nick Spaling in 2009. Sissons was returned to the AHL after playing in three games but was recalled again on February 8. In his 14th NHL game, Sissons scored his first career NHL goal against Matt Hackett in a 6–1 win over the Buffalo Sabres. The goal came at 6:26 in the first period to give the Predators a 1–0 lead. Sissons completed his first professional season by appearing in 17 games and tallying four points with the Predators.

Reader's Guide

Sissons returned to the Predators for their pre-season action, where he played in two exhibition games and logged 12:49 minutes of ice time. In the first year of his new contract, Sissons began the 2016–17 season on the Predators' fourth-line before moving up the lineup. He was eventually teamed up with captain Mike Fisher and Austin Watson for the Predators shutdown line and scored his first career NHL hat-trick in January. His hat-trick came in a 6–1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena. After being scratched for seven games between February 23 and March 7, Sisson returned to the Predators lineup and broke out offensively. During a game against the Calgary Flames on March 27, Sisson scored a goal to help lead the team to a 3–1 win in his 100th career NHL game. As the Predators narrowly qualified for the 2017 playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference, they met the top-seeded Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. In Game 2, Sissons scored his first career playoff goal on Blackhawks' goaltender Corey Crawford to become one of four Predators players (besides Ryan Ellis, Kevin Fiala and Harry Zolnierczyk, respectively) to score their first career playoff goals and lead the team to a 5–0 win in the game for a 2–0 series lead. Sissons continued to produce and scored another goal in Game 4 to lead the Predators to a four game sweep of the Blackhawks. Following this win, Sissons and the Predators met the St. Louis Blues in Round Two. After tallying two assists in a Game 3 win over the Blues, Sissons had recorded two goals and four assists through seven games. With his assistance, the Predators beat the Blues and met with the Anaheim Ducks in the 2017 Western Conference Final. Due to injuries to top-line forwards Ryan Johansen and Mike Fisher, Sissons was elevated to the first-line role in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final. During Game 6, he scored a hat-trick—including the game-winning goal—as the Predators defeated the Ducks 6–3 to win the Claren

Did You Know?

• Sissons was selected by the Nashville Predators in the second round, 50th overall, of the 2012 NHL entry draft.
• He became the youngest player in franchise history to be named captain of the Milwaukee Admirals prior to the 2015–16 season.
• Sissons scored his first career NHL hat-trick in a 6–1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena in January 2017.
• In Game 6 of the 2017 Western Conference Final, Sissons scored a hat-trick—including the game-winning goal—as the Predators defeated the Anaheim Ducks 6–3.
• Sissons was invited to Team Canada's national junior team training camp in 2012 but had to pull out after suffering a left arm injury.