After spending the past three seasons with the Flames, Joe Colborne has moved on to his third team, the Avalanche .
Joe Colborne has signed with Colorado
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2016
Joe Colborne Inks Deal With Colorado
Colborne’s new contract will pay him $5 million over 2 years for an AAV of $2.5 million. This is a step up from his previous pact he signed with Calgary in 2014 that has paid him $2.5 million over two seasons ($1.2 million AAV).
The now-26-year old is a very under the radar player that may find a new niche with Colorado. After two consecutive 28-point seasons, he broke out relatively out of nowhere this season in his contract year, scoring 19 goals and 44 points, both crushing his previous career highs of 10 and 28 respectively. He played in the top six with Mikael Backlund and Matt Stajan this past campaign using a dogged work ethic that was never given an opportunity with the Toronto Maple Leafs (16 games over three seasons). Colborne’s got a 6’5″, 221-pound frame that can protect the puck, drive opponents to the boards, or be a net-front presence on the power play. He chipped in with three man-advantage tallies this season.
Colborne to Colorado. 2 years, $2.5 mil per.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2016
Once a highly touted prospect drafted 16th overall by the Boston Bruins, the Calgary, Alberta native will look to prove that 2015-16 was not a fluke. Though he played top six minutes with Calgary he could fit in a checking role with his big frame that can chip in with some timely goals or a big hit. He was never a good possession player on Flames teams that have been the epitome of black holes, but possibly playing with a skilled center that drives possession like Backlund did (52.4% CF%), Colborne could repeat this career performance. Though he can use his body to hit, he’s relatively calm in his demeanor and quite disciplined, posting a career low in penalty minutes last season (27). He’s still 26 and has some growing to do, so time will tell if Colborne can be a consistent player over his career starting with the Avalanche.
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