Maple Leafs deal Colborne to Flames for fourth-round pick

By Joe YerdonSep 29, 2013, 12:23 AM EDT
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are figuring out how to cut down their roster, and they’ve made a trade to help that along.

The Leafs sent center Joe Colborne to the Calgary Flames in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft. The pick can be upgraded to a third-round selection if certain conditions are met this season. Flames GM Jay Feaster had glowing words about his new player.

“As an organization we have had many discussions this past year about Joe, but never made an offer,” said Flames General Manager Jay Feaster. “With the opportunity to speak with Brian Burke and learn about Joe’s hockey sense and character from someone who had him as a player and knows him so well, it became clear to us that this is the type of young, big center we need. He fits in very well with our rebuild and provides size up the middle which we believe is critical going forward.”

With the Flames, Colborne will get the opportunity to jump right into things at center as that’s one of their big (many?) weaknesses. It was clear he wasn’t going to make Toronto’s roster and if they put him on waivers they likely would’ve lost him for nothing.

The obvious connection to make here is with new Flames director of hockey operations Brian Burke and Leafs GM Dave Nonis.

It was Burke as GM of the Leafs who acquired Colborne from the Boston Bruins in the Tomas Kaberle deal in 2011. Now he heads to his hometown of Calgary to be part of Burke’s team there as the two former co-workers teamed up to swing the deal.

Hartley encouraged by play of Flames youngsters Monahan, Knight

By Joe YerdonSep 15, 2013, 3:41 PM EDT
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Things may not be shaping up for a great year in Calgary, but coach Bob Hartley has seen a couple players pique his interest so far in training camp.

2013 first-round pick Sean Monahan and summer acquisition Corban Knight have done well early on and Hartley says he’s interested to see what they can do as Heather Robinson of Sportsnet reports.

“All our young kids play well, they’re all good kids, they all respect the game and that’s important. It’s the feather in the cap to the front office, they’ve drafted some good kids and we’re going to need them through the season whether it’s injuries or whatever it is, and I’ve been impressed with the way they carry themselves.”

GM Jay Feaster doesn’t get many kudos these days, but here we are. Drafting Monahan sixth overall and acquiring Knight from the Panthers gives them a couple of very young and hopeful players.

With the state the current Flames roster is in, both players might stick with the team all season.

Flames re-sign Brodie — two years, $4.25 million

By Joe YerdonJul 31, 2013, 9:00 PM EDT
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Calgary GM Jay Feaster is taking care of one of their promising young defensemen.

The Flames announced they’ve re-signed restricted free agent T.J. Brodie to a two-year, $4.25 million deal. That works out to a $2.125 million cap hit over that time.

Last season, Brodie emerged as one of Calgary’s more trusted blue liners playing an average of over 20 minutes per game. Eerily enough, he equaled his offensive output from the previous year last season in seven fewer games with two goals and 12 assists.

At age 23 he’s easily the Flames’ youngest defenseman and they’re more than happy to see him improve his game. That alone may not be enough to stop some from questioning why he got such a juicy raise ($1.2 to nearly $2 million) coming off his entry-level deal.

Flames sign college standout Jooris to entry-level deal

By Joe YerdonJul 30, 2013, 10:10 PM EDT

Calgary GM Jay Feaster turned to the college ranks to fill out their prospect coffers as the Flames announced the signing of forward Josh Jooris to a two-year entry-level deal.

After three seasons with Union College, Jooris had 29 goals and 59 assists over 117 games. He was fourth on the team in points last season (28) and second in penalty minutes (46).

Jooris is leaving school a year early to join the Flames after participating in their prospect camp this summer. Suffice to say, Feaster was impressed with what he saw out of him.

“During our recent development camp he played an aggressive, up-tempo style and displayed good grit and a high compete level,” he said. “Our staff felt strongly that we should attempt to get him signed, and we are pleased to welcome him to the organization.”

Flames sign 2012 second-rounder Sieloff

By Joe YerdonJul 20, 2013, 9:35 AM EDT

Calgary ensured themselves of having some brand of defensive toughness in the future.

The Flames inked 2012 second-round pick, defenseman Patrick Sieloff, to his three-year entry-level deal. At 6’1″ 200 pounds, he’s already a strong, physical player for the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL and that’s something that appeals to GM Jay Feaster.

“Sieloff is an ‘old school’ style player and we welcome the edge he brings to his game,” he said. “We are very pleased to have him signed and look forward to seeing him in Penticton and at training camp.”

If his name sounds a little familiar to you perhaps it’s from his play for Team USA during their gold medal run at the 2013 World Junior Championships. In 45 games for Windsor, he had three goals and eight assists with 85 penalty minutes. A player with his kind of edge on the blue line might be useful in Calgary one day.