Did Colborne really say Niewendyk was one of his heroes because the Flames traded him when Colborne was 5 years old. When I was 5 I idolized Big Bird and The Cookie Monster

Thankfully for all of us, it wont be as high profiled as the Kessel trade where we need to compare Phil to Seguin and Hamilton during his entire career
- Colin Dambrauskas

You never know, Datsyuk was drafted in the 6th round and Zetterberg the 7th round ....

The Leafs always win trades! How dare you, sir! HOW DARE YOU!!!!

"As I was going over the trade details and reading all the “analysts” give their two cents, I found the number of Leaf supporters who have written Colborne off, at the tender age of 23 with nothing more than 16 NHL games played, to be quite odd. "

Kind of like how Kadri was written-off by age 19 by everyone?

You find it odd people are writing-off Colborne? The guy is nearly 24. He was already given up by Boston 2 and a half years ago.

Nothing odd about this.

You're reaching here hoping for the best. The fact is, he was outplayed again by so many other Leafs prospects.

Did Colborne really say Niewendyk was one of his heroes because the Flames traded him when Colborne was 5 years old. When I was 5 I idolized Big Bird and The Cookie Monster
- leaf4life

haha...I thought the exact same thing

"As I was going over the trade details and reading all the “analysts” give their two cents, I found the number of Leaf supporters who have written Colborne off, at the tender age of 23 with nothing more than 16 NHL games played, to be quite odd. "

Kind of like how Kadri was written-off by age 19 by everyone?

You find it odd people are writing-off Colurne? The guy is nearly 24. He was already given up by Boston 2 and a half years ago.

Nothing odd about this.
- RogerRoeper

I think this had more to do with Peter Chiarelli's obession with Tomas Kaberle

Colin Dambrauskas: Brian Burke Wins First Trade with Toronto Maple Leafs
- Colin Dambrauskas

Its funny that Burke is all of a sudden the GM in Calgary and Feaster gets no mention.

If you call getting a career 3rd/4th liner/top line AHL'er for a 4th rounder....than go ahead!

I guess with how the flames are looking, even tiny positives need to be made into big ones.

"As I was going over the trade details and reading all the “analysts” give their two cents, I found the number of Leaf supporters who have written Colborne off, at the tender age of 23 with nothing more than 16 NHL games played, to be quite odd. "

Kind of like how Kadri was written-off by age 19 by everyone?

You find it odd people are writing-off Colurne? The guy is nearly 24. He was already given up by Boston 2 and a half years ago.

Nothing odd about this.
- RogerRoeper

Again...Colborne had some set backs in his development and when healthy was great for the Marlies. I know most Leaf fans are thinking - the guy has done(nothing) so far, we dont need hom (now). But Im telling you, the Leafs may regret this one.

Its easy to argue that hes only posted X points in X games and therefore is a bust at 23.

I hope the message from the blog was clear though...while I hold that the Flames came out on top with respect to the trade, the Leafs really had no other choice and had to take the gamble that Colborne doesnt fully develop.

Boston had too much depth for Colborne to play, and despite not having a ton of depth in Toronto, Joe never earned a role as a result of injuries and inconsistency. What many fail to account for is that Joe played a good portion of the season injured and, while he had a few very strong months with the Marlies, his development was set back a little.

Again, Burke wins this trade for me given what they acquired for a 4th rounder. Im sure Nonis wasnt pleased with having to give up on him so early.
- Colin Dambrauskas

Again isnt Feaster the GM...not sure how Burke won anything?
Unless Feaster was caned?

Again...Colborne had some set backs in his development and when healthy was great for the Marlies. I know most Leaf fans are thinking - the guy has done(nothing) so far, we dont need hom (now). But Im telling you, the Leafs may regret this one.

Its easy to argue that hes only posted X points in X games and therefore is a bust at 23.

I hope the message from the blog was clear though...while I hold that the Flames came out on top with respect to the trade, the Leafs really had no other choice and had to take the gamble that Colborne doesnt fully develop.
- Colin Dambrauskas

I'm just pointing out, given how fast a lot of prospects are named "Busts", there's nothing odd about doing so with Colborne. Seriously, did you hear the laughter of how bad Kadri was only a year or two after he was drafted?

The fact is, Joe should have stepped-up and played better in the preseason. Carter ashton kicked his ass. Josh Leivo at age 20 skated circles around him. This was a logical move to do.

Did Colborne really say Niewendyk was one of his heroes because the Flames traded him when Colborne was 5 years old. When I was 5 I idolized Big Bird and The Cookie Monster
- leaf4life

That's because you had no one to idolize in Toronto

Joking aside. When I was 5 I loved hockey, so Messier and Gretzky were easy enough to idolize. I also idolized Tyson and Canseco.

BTW, Burke is amazing at trades. dump Feaster now. We all know that will happen. Why waste time?

The Kessel trade overshadowed Burke's brilliant trades in Toronto. And even the Kessel trades looks pretty good right now.

Colin

Two teams, Bruins and Leafs have now passed on Joe. Passing twice on a first round choice is a red flag for a prospect. He only got into 16 games because there were better players ahead of him on the Leafs' weak depth chart. Looking further back into his career, choosing North Dakota over the WHL likely says a lot about Joe's game and comfort zone.

Colborne is not very physical and a marginal skater (improved with power skating with Barbara Underhill) that disappears for multiple shifts at a time.

That said, I wish Joe and the Flames good luck this season. I hope Joe proves everyone wrong and has a career season.
- Leafsandbolts

says the bolts fan who has what, 4 good players total?

meh, he showed nothing that would suggest he's ready and Calgary is weaker up front so he'll get a chance to play. The only problem for the leafs is they loose depth at center until Gauthier is ready. I hope the guy does well in Calgary, mostly because a Calgary 3rd round pick will be in the 61-65 range

Its funny that Burke is all of a sudden the GM in Calgary and Feaster gets no mention.

If you call getting a career 3rd/4th liner/top line AHL'er for a 4th rounder....than go ahead!

I guess with how the flames are looking, even tiny positives need to be made into big ones.
- Fakepartofme

Feaster is still the GM of the Flames, but we al know who had the most influence on this deal. And yes, for the Flames this was a nice acquistion. They picked up another young player and added more depth to their lineup for a 4th round pick.

Not sure why it's so hard to see that this was a good pickup for the Flames all things considered.

I'm just pointing out, given how fast a lot of prospects are named "Busts", there's nothing odd about doing so with Colborne. Seriously, did you hear the laughter of how bad Kadri was only a year or two after he was drafted?

The fact is, Joe should have stepped-up and played better in the preseason. Carter ashton kicked his ass. Josh Leivo at age 20 skated circles around him. This was a logical move to do.
- RogerRoeper

Fair enough, but I still say the Leafs would have much rather kept the guy than move him for a 4th if the cap wasnt a problem.

Fair enough, but I still say the Leafs would have much rather kept the guy than move him for a 4th if the cap wasnt a problem.
- Colin Dambrauskas

The biggest problem is not being able to send him down to the Marlies without facing Waivers. That and the fact he clearly wasn't making the team.

Well, in fairness, I write for both teams and this trade just so happened to involve both.

Now folks, for those who didnt read the entire blog(which I know most go by the title) its quite simple. Leafs moved a guy like Colborne out of necessity. They would have rathered keep him given his cap hit, age, size, and potential Im sure.

To say Colborne is a "scrub" and worth nothing more than a 4th rounder is shortsighted imo. This is a young centerman with a ton of size who has yet to realize his potential at the NHL level. Not sure how so many fans have written him off so soon with such a small sample of games.

No, this wasnt an earth shattering loss for Toronto, but given that I follow and respect both teams, I feel the Flames came out of this one on top and took advantage of Toronto's cap situation.

Not sure theres any other way to look at it, really. Colborne didnt get the chance in Toronto, didnt have a spot on the Leafs roster this year with Bolland there and no cap space, but I feel they might regret it down the road.
- Colin Dambrauskas

an unproven 22 year old is an unproven 22 year old. only so much lipstick you can smear on the pig Colin. Nonis was smart to move him and start recouping all the draft picks he's recently dealt away.

Hope the chance to play for his hometown and team he grew up idolizing can get him motivated. It was his job to lose basically and he did that this year. Was absolutely invisible in preseason whichis hard to do since he is 6'5". I remember reading when Boston drafted him that he comes from a very wealthy family (I could be wrong) and therefore has always had things on a silver spoon which could be a reason he hasnt had the drive? I really didnt flinch seeing him gone. If he does well in Calgary great..

The biggest problem is not being able to send him down to the Marlies without facing Waivers. That and the fact he clearly wasn't making the team.
- RogerRoeper

In Toronto, no...but understand that he wasnt making the team for a few reasons, not solely due to play. The Leafs were already tigh on cap space, Clarkson is out 10 games and they needed to replace him in the top 6, Colborne wasnt going to take Kadri or Bozaks spots in the top 6 and Bolland was brought in to play 3rd line center. He just didnt have a spot...though I felt he played well during the preseason.

If the Leafs could have afforded to keep him around as an extra forward Im sure they would have. Who does Toronto call up now for injuries down the middle?

an unproven 22 year old is an unproven 22 year old. only so much lipstick you can smear on the pig Colin. Nonis was smart to move him and start recouping all the draft picks he's recently dealt away.
- DoubleDown

Im not arguing otherwise...though Im saying all things considered the Flames come out on top. Nonis (needed) to move him, Flames benefited. Thats basically all Im saying folks.

Who does Toronto call up now for injuries down the middle?
- Colin Dambrauskas

Probably Smith

Well, in fairness, I write for both teams and this trade just so happened to involve both.

Now folks, for those who didnt read the entire blog(which I know most go by the title) its quite simple. Leafs moved a guy like Colborne out of necessity. They would have rathered keep him given his cap hit, age, size, and potential Im sure.

To say Colborne is a "scrub" and worth nothing more than a 4th rounder is shortsighted imo. This is a young centerman with a ton of size who has yet to realize his potential at the NHL level. Not sure how so many fans have written him off so soon with such a small sample of games.

No, this wasnt an earth shattering loss for Toronto, but given that I follow and respect both teams, I feel the Flames came out of this one on top and took advantage of Toronto's cap situation.

Not sure theres any other way to look at it, really. Colborne didnt get the chance in Toronto, didnt have a spot on the Leafs roster this year with Bolland there and no cap space, but I feel they might regret it down the road.
- Colin Dambrauskas

Agree, especially with injuries. Give him a couple more seasons to fill out and he could be a gem. An easy risk for sure.

nobody can call trading for colborne a 'win'.
3rd, 4th line plug at best are a dime a dozen.

nobody can call trading for colborne a 'win'.
3rd, 4th line plug at best are a dime a dozen.
- Barx

I did