Newest Leaf Colborne a ‘fabulous talent’

Boston Bruins prospect Joe Colborne was acquired by the Maple Leafs in exchange for defenceman Tomas Kaberle on Friday.

Steve Babineau/NHL/GETTY IMAGES

Sitting up front, coach Boris Rybalka checked the new text message buzzing on his phone.

“Don’t know if you’ve heard, Kaberle for Colborne,” it read. “I’m a Leaf!!!”

Colborne, a 6-foot-5 centre with Boston’s AHL farm team in Providence, let his old team know as soon as he could.

He was on his way to Toronto, along with a conditional pick, in exchange for veteran defenceman Tomas Kaberle.

“I know he’s ecstatic to be coming to Toronto,” Rybalka said, as the team was en route to a Friday night game in Bonnyville, Alta.

“We can’t wait to see him put on that Leaf jersey and start doing what we know he can do for them.”

“For guy who’s 6-5 and his weight, he handles the puck in corners very well. He can make unbelievable passes … He’ll do what needs to be done.”

Colborne led the Kodiaks to two straight Alberta Junior Hockey League championships in 2007 and 2008. He was named the Canadian Junior Hockey League’s player of the year, before being drafted 16th overall by Boston in 2008.

He spent the next two seasons with the University of Denver, before signing his first pro contract in March 2010. The 21-year-old prospect, a pass-first centre with soft hands, has 12 goals and 26 points with Providence this season.

“Joe is a fabulous talent,” said George Gwozdecky, head coach of the University of Denver’s hockey team, rhyming off praise for Toronto’s new hope.

“I don’t think you’ll find a better young man, either. He is a terrific teammate, works his tail off, very dedicated, very sincere. Just a really good person. Really intelligent.”

Colborne’s learning curve in college was exceptional, Gwozdecky said. He is his own worst critic, and has a willingness to learn and be coached. It’s the kind of trait, Gwozdecky says, that guarantees we’ll see Colborne excel in the NHL “sooner than a lot of people think.”

Leafs GM Brian Burke says the team has been pleased with Colborne’s progress so far in the minors.

“He meets our criteria of assets who are close,” he said. “Not guys that will take three years to get there.

“He’s not ready yet, but he’s close.”

Paul Colborne, a lifelong always-and-forever Leafs fan, was already excited about the young prospects in the team’s system. Now that his son is one of them, he’s ecstatic.

“I’m pretty pumped about it, to tell you the truth,” he said, over the phone, waiting for a flight to Providence at the Toronto airport on Friday.

“I’m still a Leaf fan, through and through. It’s been a long time since 1967 though — so hopefully we can turn that around.”

He and his wife, Janice, were en route from Calgary — and learned the news during a stopover, as their phones erupted with messages.

Paul was born in Sarnia, Ont., but moved to Calgary as a boy. He carried his love of the Leafs with him to Alberta, where he became a multi-millionaire building oil and gas companies.

Paul played football for the University of Calgary, and his wife Janice was a gymnast. Joe’s three sisters all play basketball — the eldest, Melissa played for Yale and is now playing in Germany.

“I’m excited for (Joe) to get a good fair chance to show what he can do,” Paul said of his son, who was less than six feet before hitting massive growth spurt (and the gym) five years ago.

“It’s just all coming around for him,” he said. “And we’re all excited about that.”

Cheers; Scott