QOTD: Who is Joe Colborne?

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Slava

I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. Maybe I have no idea, but on an actual competing NHL team this guy hardly cracks the line-up. Something tells me that this would be a different thread if we were looking at him after a game against someone other than the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Basically this.

The Flames are 5-3-1 but not an actual competing NHL team?

Colborne is tied for the lead in assists and it's not just because he has good line-mates. He's probably our best fore-checker and spends plenty of quality time with the puck in the offensive zone.

The Flames are good so far this year, I recommend you start watching the games.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

Basically this.

The Flames are 5-3-1 but not an actual competing NHL team?

Colborne is tied for the lead in assists and it's not just because he has good line-mates. He's probably our best fore-checker and spends plenty of quality time with the puck in the offensive zone.

The Flames are good so far this year, I recommend you start watching the games.

Thanks, I have season tickets, but tell me again how I don't watch?

The Flames have won a couple games against clubs that are half decent, but otherwise lets not get too excited about Carolina, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Those teams are train wrecks. The had no business being on the same rink as the Blackhawks, and they beat Nashville. If you want to call that a competitive team, go for it. This isn't a playoff team though, and against teams that are they look out-played and under-gunned.

Explain how a guy like Colborne cracks a line-up that is actually a playoff club though. Where does a team have a need for a soft, mediocre skill player who can occasionally show up?

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Slava

I can hardly believe what I'm seeing. Maybe I have no idea, but on an actual competing NHL team this guy hardly cracks the line-up. Something tells me that this would be a different thread if we were looking at him after a game against someone other than the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Why so serious?
Colborne, in his sophomore season, leads a team currently 4th place in the conference in scoring, and is +3.
It's not so bad.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by Bingo

came to Calgary heralded as the next David Steckel, moved to the wing, then back to center, then back to the wing.

Seems to be the poster boy for wanting to be here, and getting in front of microphones.

Now has 8 assists in 9 games to start an NHL season suggesting he may just be more than a Steckel or a third line center.

Who is this guy?

Just wanted to say thanks bingo, these threads are great

[timbit]

He is progressing into a good 200 foot NHL player with good vision, compete level and the skills to execute.
Imo, if he continues to improve he will be a strong top 9 forward piece of a contending Flames team in 4 years.
Very good trade.

[kermitology]

Utility player.

He can take faceoffs, he can crash and bang, he can dangle, he can kill penalties. The guys reach is enormous, he oozes skill and is the easy start in the shootout, he can play wing or centre. That's the definition of utility.

I think he's got the skills to be a top 6 forward, but not really a top 6 centre. He's more of a behind the net protect the puck guy and I don't see that being the role of a centre. But he'll play the centre role on the PK or on the 4th line to take a big draw.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Why so serious?
Colborne, in his sophomore season, leads a team currently 4th place in the conference in scoring, and is +3.
It's not so bad.

Ya, you're probably right. I guess I just don't care for Colborne, but its not the end of the world.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by Slava

Thanks, I have season tickets, but tell me again how I don't watch?

The Flames have won a couple games against clubs that are half decent, but otherwise lets not get too excited about Carolina, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Those teams are train wrecks. The had no business being on the same rink as the Blackhawks, and they beat Nashville. If you want to call that a competitive team, go for it. This isn't a playoff team though, and against teams that are they look out-played and under-gunned.

Explain how a guy like Colborne cracks a line-up that is actually a playoff club though. Where does a team have a need for a soft, mediocre skill player who can occasionally show up?

Lay off the heroin beer haha. I don't think there are many teams that wouldn't like him on their team. Sure some of the stacked teams he'd be 3rd liner but no one would let him go on waivers.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Slava

Ya, you're probably right. I guess I just don't care for Colborne, but its not the end of the world.

Stamkos ate him alive the other night. I don't know why Hartley kept that matchup.
Colborne is clearly not ready for that kind of competition, and maybe never will be. But his progression has been extremely good to this point, and gives confidence that other prospects will follow a high development curve.
Time will tell

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Slava

Thanks, I have season tickets, but tell me again how I don't watch?

The Flames have won a couple games against clubs that are half decent, but otherwise lets not get too excited about Carolina, Edmonton and Winnipeg. Those teams are train wrecks. The had no business being on the same rink as the Blackhawks, and they beat Nashville. If you want to call that a competitive team, go for it. This isn't a playoff team though, and against teams that are they look out-played and under-gunned.

Explain how a guy like Colborne cracks a line-up that is actually a playoff club though. Where does a team have a need for a soft, mediocre skill player who can occasionally show up?

Well then I assume you only watch home games which would explain why you feel the way you do so far this season.

It's fair to mention the quality of competition, but don't forget to mention that this happened during a grueling 6 game road trip which involved multiple back-to-back nights. It's a good sign when a road team can win games they have 'no business' winning.

Nobody is saying that the Flames are a playoff team as it's way too early in the season to start drawing conclusions. This is a rebuilding team so why are you being this negative towards a young 6'5 forward showing progression?

[Erick Estrada]

It's pretty clear he gained a lot of confidence over the summer after having a season under his belt and looks much more assertive and creative in the offensive zone. He's got top 6 size and skill and it's just a matter of him putting it all together and right now he's looking like he's on the cusp of breaking out into a 50 point player which I would say is top 6.

[The Fonz]

Slava, it's not just 9 games, he looked great in the 2nd half of last season as well.

As a winger? He's done a great job on the 2nd line, for roughly 50 games now, and the team has played at a 98 point pace over that same time frame. He's a very capable 2nd line RW already.

[Plett25]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

It's fair to mention the quality of competition

I disagree.

If we throw out the Carolina game to make the schedule harder, the Flames have played 37% of their games against teams that had 100+ points last season (33% of teams had 100+ points last season) and 50% of the games were against teams that made the playoffs last season (53% of teams make the playoffs)

Including the Flames games, the combined record of the Flames' opponents is 27-18-6, on pace for 96 points. Excluding the Flames games, those teams have a combined record of 23-16-4, on pace for 95 points.

IMO the Flames schedule to this point has been pretty representative of a standard NHL schedule. A small sample size, but a representative sample.

Edit:
Forgot to add that in those 8 games, the Flames are on pace for 92 points and are a +1 team.

[Slava]

Well I guess I could be entirely wrong. I mean 50 points is nearly double what he put up last season, and that seems like a reach to me. I guess we'll see what happens over the next 73 games though.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I guess I could be entirely wrong. I mean 50 points is nearly double what he put up last season, and that seems like a reach to me. I guess we'll see what happens over the next 73 games though.

Not me. With how he has been playing and controlling the boards through the first ten, I would be unsurprised to see him hit 50. Joe Colborne will turn 25-years-old this year, and is entering his playing prime. Big leaps in production for players his age is not all that unusual, and so far he has delivered some pretty promising indications that he is due.

[Bourque's Twin]

Colborne had a nagging wrist injury that prevented him from performing to his capabilities.

I forget who it was, but someone analysed his performance in the AHL and NHL (before becoming a Flame) when he had the injury and when he didn't. Essentially, he was a PPG player in the AHL (or even better) when he wasn't injured.

He had surgery on his wrist before being traded to Calgary, and when he started with the club, he was healed up.
In 89 games with the Flames, he has 36 pts. In 84 games, Sean Monahan has 38 points. I know Monahan is 4 years younger, but they were both rookies last year.

Give Joe, a former first rounder, the chance to establish himself (which he is undoubtedly doing this season). I think he has the potential to be an all-around 50+ point guy who plays PP and PK.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well I guess I could be entirely wrong. I mean 50 points is nearly double what he put up last season, and that seems like a reach to me. I guess we'll see what happens over the next 73 games though.

Well you're emphasizing "almost double" to make it seem like it would be such a stretch. The reality is, he's a young player, coming off his rookie season and entering his prime years, and given what we've seen in the second half of last year and early this season, it's not a stretch at all.

I'm quite surprised by your analysis of Joe Colborne, actually. It's contrary to almost every single opinion in here (which doesn't always necessarily mean a person is wrong). The "he wouldn't even make the lineup of contending teams" is especially surprising.

He likely wouldn't be top six on most contending teams, but to suggest he straight up wouldn't make any of their teams is straight out of crazy ville, imo.

[sa226]

I think the key word is "developing" Nobody is saying he is there yet. He always was going to be a project. The fact that he is on an upward trajectory starting from the trade to this year is reason for optimism.

[PIMking]

seems like Joe is finding his role. He has good hands, big body, and is strong. I really like him and think he could be a top 6 forward fill in but should be a 3rd liner most of the time but a winger on second line is fine.

TBQH I really like what Burke has done a great job since getting here. I really like how Mush mouth (err Hartley) has done with the talent.

This team just doesn't seem to stop playing, you can see it from big Joe all the way to little Byron. I would really like to keep Big ern here just for the presence he has. He seems like a great locker room guy and seems to help the young guys under his wing.

[Camronius]

For me it's not so much of what is he now more of what he could be. I mean if I had to answer the question of what he is now then it would be this;

-Former first rounder, who has shown success in the AHL
-A developing forward "prospect" on a young team who is showing improvement and progression in his game
-great hands in shootouts/breakaways
-big body, just starting to use it beginning of this year, still growing/maturing into his frame/strength
-offensive & defensive upside

What could he be? I'm leaning towards a top 6 player, and I'm happy with his progression. I think he's certainly trending up. Realistically he could also still end up being a lower role player or complete dud depending on how his development goes.

I completely agree he doesn't crack the top 6 of other 'elite' teams at this moment, but that's not the point.... I don't think Monahan necessarily does either right? On deeper teams these players are developed and slowly progress into the top 6 role. Similar to Shaw/Saad in chicago for example. The point is kinda moot, as in our case we don't really have that depth for sheltered minutes. I'm happy with his progression, and he does show the capability to develop into a legitimate top 6 forward.

Potential.