Vancouver Canucks Free Agency: Top 5 Exposed RFAs to Target
By David Joun
No. 1: Joe Colborne
Looking back at the four players we have seen so far, no one has stood out as a stud fit for the Canucks. No one was an established scorer who could post 20+ goals and at this age, a two-way forward is hard to come by. The defense is just too packed right now for Justin Schultz.
But here is Joe Colborne, the Calgary Flame, who is getting the short end of the stick with his team stuck with the task of re-signing both Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan and finding a backup netminder — all in just $19 million. The buy-out of former Canuck Mason Raymond will certainly facilitate that process. There is still talk that Colborne may return to Calgary.
Bottomline, he had 19 goals in 73 games this season. And he is one of the few positive-Corsi players on this list. And oh, he is big.
Position: Forward
Height / Weight: 6-foot-5, 221 lbs
Age: 26
2015-16 Stats: 73 GP — 19 Goals — 25 Assists — 44 Points
2015-16 Salary: $1.275 million
Expected UFA Salary: $3.3 million
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Colborne is a versatile offensive player who, like many on this list, can both rack up the assists and the goals. At the end of the season when the Calgary Flames were in “tank mode”, Colborne stepped up and had nine goals and 20 points in the final 19 games of the season.
He, of course, is like a power forward at times when he properly uses his 6-foot-5 frame, a figure that will instantly make him the largest forward in the Vancouver lineup. He can play all three forward positions, so that makes line-making a lot easier for Willie Desjardins.
His size and reach make him a constant threat in front of the net as well as on the rush. He is likely the most complete offensive player available as an un-qualified restricted free agent. I really like this guy.
Suggested Lines:
S. Baertschi – B. Horvat – J. Colborne
J. Colborne – B. Sutter – J. Virtanen
The Canucks have not had a big forward like him who can line up in all three positions. There are so many combinations possible thanks to his offensive prowess, size, speed. Colborne at $3.5 million will prove better than Milan Lucic at $6.5 million.He has been criticized as a sub-par defensive player, however.
Next: CASE: Is Olli Juolevi not the Canucks' #1 Prospect?
Though Joe has been criticized as a sub-par defensive player, he is too good to pass by. It’s time for Jim Benning to join the action and call his agents. At least drive up the asking price so the Flames are forced to sign him on a bigger deal.