Joe Colborne: Learning to Fly

     Joe Colborne has had a far from modest start to his season with the Toronto Marlies. Colborne currently playing with Joey Crabb and Jerry D’Amigo has produced 8 goals and 16 points in just 8 games this season thus far. Putting him on a 2 point per game pace. Also putting him at the top of the AHL in league scoring.

     Colborne would tell you this start has a lot to do with the improvements he’s made this past off-season. Colborne skated and trained extensively with skating coaches to improve his prowess on the blades. It’s showing as his stride looks smoother and longer this season, along with him looking more agile for having such a big frame. Described as a pass first center, Colborne is showing he has no problem putting the puck in the net when the opportunity presents itself. That opportunity is going to come more often than ever as Colborne has been creating chances for not only his teammates, but for himself so far this season.

     Fans aren’t the only ones impressed with the big native of Calgary Alberta. Marlies Coach Dallas Eakins is impressed with not only his play with the puck, but also away from it. Chiming that he’s much more defensively sound this season. Overall a great start for Big Joe, but a test lies ahead as the Marlies have a 9 game road trip which has already begun with a loss to Lake Erie tonight 2 to 1. However Colborne notched the lone goal for the Marlies with a nice dangle on a breakaway. It will be interesting to see if Colborne can keep his production in the vicinity it is now over the next 8 games of the road trip.

     Who knows what the future holds for Joe Colborne, but Joe knows what he wants to be. “I want to be a first-line centre” says Colborne. That’s all that  Leaf fans need to hear for now, as he’s shown if he wants something he’s willing to work hard to get it.

Kyle Turris Asks for Trade

     Kyle Turris a current RFA currently owned by the Phoenix Coyotes, after lots of speculation finally has made his trade demands public.

     "This has never been about money, we've been upfront with the club from Day 1. We've respectfully requested that the player had the opportunity to move forward in his career by having a fresh start." Uttered the agent of Turris, Kurt Overhardt.

     
     It now appears as much as Coyotes GM Don Maloney has been denying it, that a trade is inevitable. It could be interesting to see the former third overall picks trade value.

Brad Ross: The Next Great Agitator in the NHL?

     Steve Ott, Sean Avery, these are the two names that will keep coming up if you ask NHL scouts to compare Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Brad Ross to a pro. Ross much like Ott and Avery plays a gritty two way game, he’s also just as annoying for other players in the WHL to play against as Ott and Avery are for NHL players.

     However Ross has a distinct offensive awareness to his game that has allowed him to put up very respectable number thus far in his WHL tenure for his Portland Winterhawks.  Notching 137 points threw his past two seasons. However outside of his offensive game, he has a fearless and sometimes reckless demeanor. As with those gaudy offensive numbers he’s also acquired 374 penalty minutes threw the past two seasons as well. Ross is simply not afraid to run his mouth, make a big hit, or drop the gloves with anyone. In fact when asked just last season what his “wow” moment was in the WHL thus far, Ross never uttered any of the goals he’d scored or assists he’d piled up. Ross instantly said getting two fighting majors in one game. Spoken like a true Brian Burke draft pick.

     Enough backstory, Ross is off to a rip roaring start in the WHL this year. Having his line mates Ryan Johansen and Nino Niederreiter advance to the pro game this season leaves Ross as the go to guy offensively for the Winterhawks, and safe to say he hasn’t disappointed. Ross has notched 8 goals, 12 assists for 20 points in 14 games thus far. If he can keep a similar pace for the whole season he will be amongst the top of the WHL in scoring. However after this season Ross has to be looking ahead to starting his pro career. With a strong off season and a good training camp we could see Ross in the blue and white as early as next year with the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Marlies. He could be well on his way to becoming the next great agitator in the NHL.

Welcome!

     Welcome to my new blog. I've decided this would be a good idea to express my thought and opinion on my passion, the best sport in the world hockey! You can expect posts on big news, but I will be making most of my posts profiling prospects and talking about the Toronto Maple Leafs. Once I start posting my articles I hope you enjoy them!