What are your thoughts on Joe Colborne so far?

[Stay Golden]

I am not as impressed with Colburne as others are. This was this first game he was even noticeable.
He does not play up to his 6'5 frame and weight even in what was his best game which was really what exactly. So he had a few good shifts so far i'm not crazy about the guy.
I don't see him as overly quick, not the best hands, skating is ok. He doesn't really hit or even lean on his opponents.
Face off's. 36%.
1 pt 5games.
I'm not sold on him yet.
Give it a couple weeks and it will be a more fair assessment of just what is he to this team.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I am not as impressed with Colburne as others are. This was this first game he was even noticeable.
He does not play up to his 6'5 frame and weight even in what was his best game which was really what exactly. So he had a few good shifts so far i'm not crazy about the guy.
I don't see him as overly quick, not the best hands, skating is ok. He doesn't really hit or even lean on his opponents.
Face off's. 36%.
1 pt 5games.
I'm not sold on him yet.
Give it a couple weeks and it will be a more fair assessment of just what is he to this team.

I don't think anyone is pencilling him in on the All Star ballot, but he is showing some flashes. As you say, we need to give him at least a few more weeks.

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I am not as impressed with Colburne as others are. This was this first game he was even noticeable.
He does not play up to his 6'5 frame and weight even in what was his best game which was really what exactly. So he had a few good shifts so far i'm not crazy about the guy.
I don't see him as overly quick, not the best hands, skating is ok. He doesn't really hit or even lean on his opponents.
Face off's. 36%.
1 pt 5games.
I'm not sold on him yet.
Give it a couple weeks and it will be a more fair assessment of just what is he to this team.

Yep, everybody's anointing him the next Joe Thornton because of a few good shifts.

Every post in here is cautious optimism that he may be improving and be able to hold an NHL spot. Thank goodness you came along to quell that tsunami of unbridled homerism.

Let's all go back to hating the team, these good vibes are icky. Trade Glencross. squawk

[Dienasty]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

I am not as impressed with Colburne as others are. This was this first game he was even noticeable.
He does not play up to his 6'5 frame and weight even in what was his best game which was really what exactly. So he had a few good shifts so far i'm not crazy about the guy.
I don't see him as overly quick, not the best hands, skating is ok. He doesn't really hit or even lean on his opponents.
Face off's. 36%.
1 pt 5games.
I'm not sold on him yet.
Give it a couple weeks and it will be a more fair assessment of just what is he to this team.

Fair enough I don't expect everyone to be sold on him but to state he has 1 point in 5 games when his ice times were:
12:54
6:45
3:58
6:44
8:22

Hard to fault the guy for only one point when he is averaging much less then 10 min, playing with Bouma/Jackman/McGratton, and that he didn't get training camp with the team.

I am not saying he is fantastic, or that he is the next big thing for the Flames, but I do think he has far more upside then Street who has been on the ice for 9:37, 17:52, 19:37, 16:22, and 13:15 in the last five games.
His one assist (and only point) was when he dumped the puck in the corner and got rocked by the Washington D man but a play was made on the dump in.

[Bezer]

I find it no surprise that he has gotten better(ish) every game, and by far his best game was after he had 4 days to practice with the team. I think we should remember he missed training camp and he is trying to catch up with the rest of the team.

I am happy that we picked him up and I really believe he is a late bloomer.

[dammage79]

He's finally rounding into game form. Now is where we will send if he can round into the player Boston hoped he'd be when they drafted him.

Looked very strong last night.

[dying4acup]

Originally Posted by Bezer

I find it no surprise that he has gotten better(ish) every game, and by far his best game was after he had 4 days to practice with the team. I think we should remember he missed training camp and he is trying to catch up with the rest of the team.

I am happy that we picked him up and I really believe he is a late bloomer.

I honestly believe he would have greatly benefitted from Hartley's high-tempo training camp, in term of both temp and chemistry.

I also believe that by game 60, when our fragile, small, inexperienced and possibly traded centre group is depleted, we will be praising this addition, as a rock. If the offense develops this is a steal.

Everybody guessed this season is about patience, well this is a guy we need to be patient with. I bet it pays off!

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by dying4acup

I honestly believe he would have greatly benefitted from Hartley's high-tempo training camp, in term of both temp and chemistry.

I also believe that by game 60, when our fragile, small, inexperienced and possibly traded centre group is depleted, we will be praising this addition, as a rock. If the offense develops this is a steal.

Everybody guessed this season is about patience, well this is a guy we need to be patient with. I bet it pays off!

This. He's a fourth round pick. I really think the kid can get it together, but it will take time, and right now this team has that.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by memphusk

This. He's a fourth round pick. I really think the kid can get it together, but it will take time, and right now this team has that.

As in 'he was traded for a 4th round pick'? Thinking of him as a 4th round pick is probably the best way to keep the expectations in check. I think he's suffered from being a former 1st rounder under the microscope in a huge market, and also being the return in an overhyped Toronto trade.

He's not showing the consistency of a 16th overall pick, but he shows flashes. He's young & has the talent to be a real player for the rebuilding Flames if he can consistently put the effort in. If he could add a physical aspect to his game he would be a monster, but he just doesn't seem to be that sort of player.

[bubbsy]

i think colborne is doing just fine. playing slightly more than a handful of mins per game with mcgratton/jackman isn't going to amount for much, though that line was effective at getting some cycling in.

Last game, he played wiht more offensive wingers and was able to generate offensive chances, and showed that there is potential there. If monohan shows that perhaps he isn't ready to play effectively just yet this year (i think the last game showed that it's not a slam dunk decision), then i'd be happy to see colborne on that 3rd line.

[memphusk]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

As in 'he was traded for a 4th round pick'? Thinking of him as a 4th round pick is probably the best way to keep the expectations in check. I think he's suffered from being a former 1st rounder under the microscope in a huge market, and also being the return in an overhyped Toronto trade.

He's not showing the consistency of a 16th overall pick, but he shows flashes. He's young & has the talent to be a real player for the rebuilding Flames if he can consistently put the effort in. If he could add a physical aspect to his game he would be a monster, but he just doesn't seem to be that sort of player.

Yes, he's a fourth round pick to us. It doesn't matter where he was drafted, just what was paid to get him here.

[Stupid]

I'm happy with him thus far..
He has to break into the NHL
He has to get used to our system
He's being reshaped into a new 'mold' (Brian Burke)

Every game I see him improve a little bit, so as long as this improvement doesn't slow down I see no reason to knock the guy. I'm definitely happy having him as a prospect.

Last game he was given an opportunity with Money getting equipment repairs and I think he did well. Showed poise and I think his game is starting to look less out of place.

[Badgers Nose]

He is really starting to impress. I see why they wanted him now.

What a crazy wingspan he has. He could be a dominant defensive centre once he fills out more. Wow was I ever wrong about him.

[Caged Great]

You can see flashes of talent there. The main thing that he needs to do in order to become a long term player is improve his physicality (which we did see last night) and gain consistency. He has average NHL talent in most areas, it just depends on how he applies those talents that will determine whether he becomes a solid useful player, or a guy who had talent but could never quite put the pieces together.

[Enoch Root]

He has gotten better each game.

He needs a goal in order to get his confidence going and so he can just relax and play.

Another big young C in the mix - out of Knight, Reinhart, Jankowski, Colborne, Granlund and Horak, someone has to step up and become a player to go along with Monahan and Backlund.

[Fire]

Colborne has gotten better but he is still an underwhelming player to watch. Might as well keep giving him top 9 minutes until Stajan comes back. If he hasn't done anything at that point you might have to sit him. Though I would prefer that Stajan is traded to keep the spot open for a younger guy.

Backlund looks like he will fit in as a 3rd line center for the Flames. Monahan will at least be a great 2nd line player. I can't see Colborne being good enough to take the other top 2 center position. Maybe he can become a 3rd line winger instead. Jankowski will hopefully take a center spot in a few years but he is long way away.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Fire

Colborne has gotten better but he is still an underwhelming player to watch. Might as well keep giving him top 9 minutes until Stajan comes back. If he hasn't done anything at that point you might have to sit him. Though I would prefer that Stajan is traded to keep the spot open for a younger guy.

Backlund looks like he will fit in as a 3rd line center for the Flames. Monahan will at least be a great 2nd line player. I can't see Colborne being good enough to take the other top 2 center position. Maybe he can become a 3rd line winger instead. Jankowski will hopefully take a center spot in a few years but he is long way away.

Yep, moving him to the wing might be a good idea. Less responsibility. He might actually flourish in that position.... although left wing is kinda full up with Cammy, TJ, Sven, Glencross, and Jiri there. I wonder how comfortable he would be playing on his off wing? ... and we are kind of old on the right side.

[EVERLAST]

If Joe puts on some muscle and works on the skating aittle hell be scary in a few years.

I think hell be fine....thank god were being somewhat patient with development of young talent now ....not like the days of old where all of our systems players are saying Fml everytime they turn around

[Iceman57]

Watching he's first few games in a Flames jersey, it was a let down for sure but ever since the Anaheim game, the kid has definitely grown. He is no longer on the 4th line, he creates chances almost every shift, is starting to use his size, he doesn't get pushed off the puck, knows how to carry and protect the puck and is doing good things when on the PP.

I honestly feel the criticism is not warranted here, to date the most NHL games this 23 year old kid has played are ten.......TEN. It was widely agreed that he needed to be on a team who would let him play and learn the NHL game. It makes absolutely zero sense when someone in this thread suggests that Colborne should be scratched in favour of Matt Stajan, this season is about learning with little to no expectations other then to play hard every shift and i see Joe doing that.

I'm not one to post predictions but i will say that i feel we have a diamond in the rough with Colborne, who right now is a young, quality center man with size........honestly, when was the last time the Flames were able to say that and keep a straight face?

[Street Pharmacist]

I'm underwhelmed