What are your thoughts on Joe Colborne so far?

[moon]

Originally Posted by Redliner

I agree with everything you said except the part about giving Street's minutes to Colborne. I think that all things considered, Street has played extremely well in what is essentially a utility role bouncing between the lines and filling gaps wherever needed. Street has earned his minutes, Colborne has not.

I don't think Street has played bad but in my view he certainly hasn't played well. He has been okay at best and looked out of place for the most part in my view.

He is a 26 year old that has shown little to no offense over his career and seems to have not much upside going forward. Would prefer to see someone that might turn into something playing those minutes then a guy who is likely always going to be a AHL/4th line tweener.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

Colborne has really used his reach well.

[PantherExtreme]

I think Streets been good. Some great stuff from him tonight, effective role player. Not losing any sleep that another AHLer(Horak/Reinhart/etc.) isnt in the lineup just due to potential. If they truly show they are becoming good players they will get their shot eventually and if management thought they were the best option right now based on what players have shown guaranteed they would be playing.

[calumniate]

Last year we had blair jones playing centre. To me this was a great stop gap in filling the need for shark like big centremen. He may not be doing much now but to me it's a great insurance move, with some possible upside.

Sent from punctuation is overrated ipad

[Zulu29]

To be frank, I haven't noticed him much. Kind of a double edged sword since in my eyes he hasn't made any glaring errors, but he certainly hasn't impressed me either. Unless he gets in the top three lines I don't think he'll be able to show his stuff.

[Rerun]

3:58 TOI for Colborne tonight. Lowest TOI on the team tonight. Does Hartley just feel this kid is just taking up space on the bench?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Rerun

3:58 TOI for Colborne tonight. Lowest TOI on the team tonight. Does Hartley just feel this kid is just taking up space on the bench?

4th line in general didn't see much ice time but he's obviously not doing enough in the coaches eyes. He's going to have to work harder or there is going to be an uncomfortable discussion between Feaster and Burke regarding what to do with him. It's early though and you don't give up a 4th round pick and not commit to giving the player a good chance and a few games isn't nearly enough at this point.

[Machiavelli]

He hasn't fit in yet; looks out of place.

[dammage79]

I'll give him a couple weeks before passing any further judgements. He has looked lost out there but we will see if he can catch on.

[BACKCHECK!!!]

He's not invisible from a lack of performance, he's invisible because he never gets any ice time.

When he's on the ice he's usually the best guy on his (4th) line. Not saying much, but it's about all we can say based on his 15 minutes or whatever of ice time he's had since joining the Flames.

[Calgary4LIfe]

He doesn't seem to compete hard enough for the puck - and this makes him stand out right now.

Still, a 4th round pick is a bargain I guess for a guy who is 6'5", with a decent body of work at the lower levels, and who skates fairly well. He is a bit of a project, but he needs to start playing a bit harder.

On the flipside, Wheeler was often unappreciated for a while in Boston as well, and it just took him some time to get used to the NHL. Colborne is just going to need time, that's all.

It sucks that guys who are more ready than him in Horak, Reinhart and Knight are forced to remain on the Heat, but in the end the Flames are in the process of rebuilding, and assets are assets, even if it isn't always fair. The other guys will get called up eventually, and they aren't exactly rotting away in the AHL anyways.

[Rerun]

Oct 4 - 12:41 TOI
Oct 6 - 6:45 TOI
Oct 9 - 3:58 TOI

Definitely not a good trend.

[automaton 3]

I thought Hartley said that they are giving him a crash course on the Flames system, and that they expected it would take some time to get him up to speed.

He looks a bit tentative when he's out there but he skates well, positioning is good and uses his size well. As he gets more comfortable with the system I expect we'll see him playing more minutes.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

That's a nicely derailed train of thought. Note that I was addressing the pick and the comforting notion that we gave up little to get Colborne. The corollary is that the other team also believes they gave up little.

Maybe, but maybe not. The Leafs were absolutely cap screwed, and had to clear salary. You can make a fair argument about how they gave up on Colborne, but I could make a fair argument about how they may not have wanted to give him up for so little.

Anyway, he is what he is. And given how low our risk is, if he turns into a modest player, we've still done well. That being said, I would very much like to see Knight and Horak get some time up. I rather wish we'd recall one of them using Stajan's roster spot and gvie them some ice time.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flames Fan, Ph.D.

The Leafs have him for 2 years and decide that their chances of drafting an equal or better player in the 4th round is higher than keeping Colborne and attempting to develop him into an NHLer.

I admit "reclamation" is not the best word here in that he's never been an NHLer. But his stock has clearly fallen from the time of his draft, to the point where he was valued as being a 4th rounder. This isn't controversial and doesn't mean he won't develop into a player here in Calgary. But let's be clear about the implicit message when a team accepts a 4th round pick for someone that's been in their organization for 2 years.

I said "good" because the 2 useful 4th rounders in our recent history were Brodie and Gaudreau. Both aren't NHL players right now, but one is and the other is a top 3 prospect in the organization... I used "good" but you can substitute your word of choice.

Disagree.

Similar to Florida having to trade Knight for less than he was worth, the Leafs knew he wasn't likely to clear waivers, and with their roster the way it was, they had little choice. Might as well get something for him.

[FacePaint]

Looked like he got elbowed by Subban and seemed shaken up. He did return for a bit but maybe that's partially why he missed some shifts?

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Maybe, but maybe not. The Leafs were absolutely cap screwed, and had to clear salary. You can make a fair argument about how they gave up on Colborne, but I could make a fair argument about how they may not have wanted to give him up for so little.

Anyway, he is what he is. And given how low our risk is, if he turns into a modest player, we've still done well. That being said, I would very much like to see Knight and Horak get some time up. I rather wish we'd recall one of them using Stajan's roster spot and gvie them some ice time.

If getting rid of him was their answer to their salary-cap problem then they are seriously screwed!

I agree with you on knight and horak though.

[skudr248]

He's getting the Cervenka treatment

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by moon

I don't think Street has played bad but in my view he certainly hasn't played well. He has been okay at best and looked out of place for the most part in my view.

He is a 26 year old that has shown little to no offense over his career and seems to have not much upside going forward. Would prefer to see someone that might turn into something playing those minutes then a guy who is likely always going to be a AHL/4th line tweener.

That's interesting. To me his play has been considerably better than I ever imagined he would be able to play. That still doesn't change the fact that I would rather have some of the flames brighter prospects playing in his roster spot.

So I disagree on the first point but agree completely on the second.

[neo45]

Would like to see Horak get those precious minutes