Joe Colborne emerging talent in face-offs?

[Heavy Jack]

I think this is great insight on the areas Joe has been working at most so far this year but his 3 goals so far have had a finishers touch so it will be exciting to see him round out his game with more time in!

[Joborule]

If he can continue it throughout the season, he's going to be a very valuable player for the Flames going forward. Winning draws have been a weakness since the loss of Langkow.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

The next Joel Otto? I'd be fine with that.

This is what I, and I believe the Flames, have hoped for with his acquisition.

We desparately need that aspect to our club. Haven't had that for years....

[Delthefunky]

He has improved in a lot of areas throughout the year. I look for him to get better as the season goes on, but for me, next season will be real telling of his long term potential. I think it was Hartley saying that he's been happy with Colborne, and that he thinks an off season to put on some muscle mass would do him really good. He's slowly becoming more physical, and the more he realizes that there's not many people in the league that can match his size the better he'll get. He's got great hands for such a big guy.

[Gaskal]

Almost pulled off the Datsyuk move last shootout. What a highlight that would've been. Goalie was beat.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Making the playoffs is always good. Not happening this year, but would be good nonetheless.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Flames would gladly trade a 3rd round pick for playoffs and a 4th.

[Canada 02]

not sure what to make of his faceoff numbers. He's had 13 good/great games this season, but also 9 games where his FO% was 33% or less (many games in the 20's). So far tonight 2 for 7

edit. finished 30% on the night

[Baxter Renegade]

Colborne is gonna be very good... Faceoffs, physically, goals, assists... Mark my words

[hummdeedoo]

Originally Posted by Red Slinger

The next Joel Otto? I'd be fine with that.

Needs to add a lot more grit to his game - Otto was not easy to play against.

The face off stats are impressive!

[Fire]

Originally Posted by hummdeedoo

Needs to add a lot more grit to his game - Otto was not easy to play against.

The face off stats are impressive!

Yeah, he will never be Otto. Just doesn't have the toughness and you don't often see players suddenly become a gritty player after being soft for their entire career.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Does his recent streak coincide with his story about Faceoffs and how refs allow the vets to cheat more than the rookies? Seems pretty close as to that time.

Really great to see him improve those numbers - a perennial weakness on this team for far too many years. He didn't do well today, but his numbers are definitely improving in that area.

[Gaskal]

Regardless of faceoff stats, the more I watch Colborne the more I like him.

[Murph]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Actually turning into a decent face-off man? Last 5 games has been a vast improvement:

78.57% http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...4/FC020401.HTM
66.67% http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...4/FC020384.HTM
75.00% http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...4/FC020376.HTM
53.85% http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...4/FC020338.HTM
66.67% http://www.nhl.com/scores/htmlreport...4/FC020324.HTM

68.42% over the last 5 games

3 for 10 last night. Thanks for jinxing it.

[$ven27]

If he can improve on faceoffs and start taking the body more he'll be the ideal 3rd line center.

[Enoch Root]

It has been a long dry spell in Calgary on this front but I think there is hope for the future - Colborne, Knight and Monahan all have some ability as well as a desire to be good at it.

I could see the Flames climbing up over 50% in a couple years.

[CaptainCrunch]

When we first picked him up I was kinda meh on the whole thing. He'd absolutely sucked in the Toronto system.

Give the Flames credit they laid out the expectations of the type of player that they needed and he's put in the work to do it.

Its been a long time since we've had a big physical center who can shut down the opposition. He's still a ways away from being that guy. But he's put in the work, that's pretty clear and that makes him valuable going forward.

Can he be an Otto? Probably not, he's got the physical tools but Otto had a mean streak combined with relentlessness that's rare.

But I'm happy with the direction he's heading in.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

It has been a long dry spell in Calgary on this front but I think there is hope for the future - Colborne, Knight and Monahan all have some ability as well as a desire to be good at it.

I could see the Flames climbing up over 50% in a couple years.

I recall reading somewhere that Monahan is absolutely obsessed with his faceoff stats. That's exactly what the Flames have been missing for so many years.

Okay, they've been missing a lot of things, but a good faceoff guy is one of the biggest ones.

[FlamesAllTheWay]

Hopefully Colborne can bulk up in the off season and fill out his frame. He could easily be a dominant physical force if he does.

Great trade though regardless of whether or not it turns into a 3rd. Guys done nothing but become more of a factor in each game he's played in since he got here.

[868904]

I know Burke made the Steckel projection, but after watching Hanzal again last night, I think that is the projection that Colborne should be working towards.

Big body, lanky, good on faceoffs, has enough skill to put up 30 to 40 points a season.

If Colborne can become that type of centre, he's going to be a core part of this team for years.

[TurnedTheCorner]

Hanzal was cheating so hard on the faceoffs last night. He should have been waved out much more often.