Hartley very impressed with Joe Colborne

[transplant99]

“From the first day, I can’t say how impressed I am and how surprised I am about the way that he’s growing in this organization,” said Flames head coach Bob Hartley, who gave his players a day-off Saturday after concluding a tough four-game trip with Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in the Mile High City.

“He is one of the best young men that I’ve coached. He’s a great learner. He reads the game the right way. He wants to learn. He’s ready to do whatever it takes to get some icetime. I can’t say how he was with Toronto or Boston, but with us, he wants icetime. He doesn’t think he’s entitled to icetime, he wants the icetime.

“He wants a bigger piece, and my plan in the very near future is to increase his role and even put him on penalty-killing.”

Bolded = a not so subtle message to Baertschi and Backlund I would say.

http://www.calgarysun.com/2013/11/09...ot-with-flames

[killer_carlson]

Yeah. I would agree that is a message to B and B, and also to the fanbase who is ready to kill him should he bench Sven again.

Good for Colborne though

[puckluck2]

4 points in 16 games with ample pp time. Yeah, real impressive.

he has David Moss hands in front of the net. He will never live up to his hype.

[Machiavelli]

I'm not that impressed, but good for Joe, I guess.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

4 points in 16 games with ample pp time. Yeah, real impressive.

he has David Moss hands in front of the net. He will never live up to his hype.

Among Flame forwards he is 7th in PP time.

try again.

[Poe969]

I hope he turns into a late bloomer because he hasn't been all that great of late, but I don't think anyone has. Even Monahan has cooled off a bit so it's hard to say who's doing well when no one is.

I like Colborne but I don't think he's a first line centre. I would love if he became one but he needs to work a lot to get there. Let's hope he does.

He is a lot better than he was when he first got here...

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

4 points in 16 games with ample pp time. Yeah, real impressive.

he has David Moss hands in front of the net. He will never live up to his hype.

He doesn't have to for this management. They want him as a 3rd line checking center. I think he has the tools to become that. I do not see top 6 center in him, and i don't think our management see's it either.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

...He will never live up to his hype.

Honestly, who cares? He was acquired for a fourth round pick, and the Flames have publicly claimed that they project him on the third line. I would say this trade has already proved to be a success.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

4 points in 16 games with ample pp time. Yeah, real impressive.

he has David Moss hands in front of the net. He will never live up to his hype.

I can only assume you're referring to his draft position? Other than that I haven't seen any "hype" at all. Management said from the start they expect him to become a good checking line center. I haven't seen any fans on here project him over a 3rd liner, maybe a 2nd/3rd tweener (guy who could fill in for injuries, but really belongs on the 3rd).

He's looked better than at the start. Using his size more to win board battles and protect the puck, although he gets put on his ass an awful lot for a 6'5" 200+ pound player. Overall a good use of a 4th.

[Heavy Jack]

They said they wanted Colborne to be a Steckel type player moving forward. A smart, defensively reliable player who is good in the dot and so far you can't be disappointed with his performance. From what I have seen he takes smart shifts, has been ok in the faceoff circle and will continue to improve (6th out of all rookies) and looks to really have that two line pass play down he just needs to learn how to finish. For a 16 game sample size ya more points would be nice but he plays smart hockey.

[Caged Great]

If he turns into Martin Hanzal lite, it's a win for us (30-40 points, not the near PPG Hanzal's put up thus far this year)

[strombad]

Originally Posted by puckluck2

4 points in 16 games with ample pp time. Yeah, real impressive.

he has David Moss hands in front of the net. He will never live up to his hype.

Let's peek at a little comparison shall we, based on their projected roles and what they all are expected to be:

Joe Colborne - 3rd line/two way forward
16 GP - 4 points
23 min PP time
TOTAL: 4 points in 205 minutes of Ice Time.

Mikael Backlund - 2nd line/two way forward
16 GP - 6 points
22 min PP time
TOTAL: 6 points in 255 minutes of Ice Time.

Sven Baertschi - 1st/2nd line offensive forward
14 GP - 5 points
17 min PP time
TOTAL: 5 points in 194 minutes of Ice Time

So by trashing Joe Colborne, a third line two way forward because he has a low point total, you also trashed Backlund and Baertschi, two much more offensive players who we used 1st round picks on that have negligible point differences than Colborne.

Great job.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by strombad

Let's peek at a little comparison shall we, based on their projected roles and what they all are expected to be:

Joe Colborne - 3rd line/two way forward
16 GP - 4 points
23 min PP time
TOTAL: 4 points in 205 minutes of Ice Time.

Mikael Backlund - 2nd line/two way forward
16 GP - 6 points
22 min PP time
TOTAL: 6 points in 255 minutes of Ice Time.

Sven Baertschi - 1st/2nd line offensive forward
14 GP - 5 points
17 min PP time
TOTAL: 5 points in 194 minutes of Ice Time

So by trashing Joe Colborne, a third line two way forward because he has a low point total, you also trashed Backlund and Baertschi, two much more offensive players who we used 1st round picks on that have negligible point differences than Colborne.

Great job.

This post conveniently ignores the flip side. One player is being praised and given ample opportunity, while the other two are being crapped on and benched for the exact same results.

[868904]

When Burke said that Colborne was going to make it as a 3rd line centre, I thought he was just trying to take pressure off the kid, but now having watched him, I think Burke's assessment was bang on. Colborne does not have the skill or hands to be a 1st or 2nd line centre, but he can carve out a very good creer as a third line centre with moderate offensive production. He still has a lot to learn, most particularly faceoffs, one no one battles, and being harder on the puck. With his size, he should win at least 75% of his puck battles, but right now he's still being pushed off the puck too easily.

[strombad]

Originally Posted by nik-

This post conveniently ignores the flip side. One player is being praised and given ample opportunity, while the other two are being crapped on and benched for the exact same results.

He's only being praised for effort and determination. This post is regarding the criticism of his point totals which is ignorant, considering he is depended on less for points than both Baertschi and Backlund and yet has comparable totals based on overall TOI.

Shouldn't Baertschi, a player who most here have penciled in as our 1st line offensive winger, be held to a high point expectation than Colborne, a 3rd line center?

Pretty basic logic.

[Vinny01]

I am glad Hartley sees something in Joe. If he can pan out to be a good player for us it is a huge win. 6'5 200+ pound centremen with his skill set do not grow on trees

[moon]

Originally Posted by nik-

This post conveniently ignores the flip side. One player is being praised and given ample opportunity, while the other two are being crapped on and benched for the exact same results.

Crapped on seems a little dramatic.

Wasn't Backlund benched once and he was given more minutes when he play improved.

Baertschi is still very young and even has been called out for some less than stellar play by many on here so it isn't like he is being benched after showing he is a solid NHL guy.

I am not sure why people are constantly shocked that Colborne is being rewarded for doing exactly what has been asked of him and Backlund/Baertschi are being sat/reduced minutes because they are not doing what is asked of them. And of course these are different standards for each guy as they are different types of players with different types of expectations.

[Bertuzzied]

Imagine how impressed Hartley would be if Colborne could actually finish?!

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by Bertuzzied

Imagine how impressed Hartley would be if Colborne could actually finish?!

It's the one major part of the game he needs to add. He's had many grade A chances but hasn't cashed, once/if he starts to learn that he could really be a difference maker on this club with the work ethic he possesses.

[Huntingwhale]

He's been a great pickup, and hopefully his offensive game arrives sooner rather then later.