Colborne relishing AHL role

Despite the fact the Toronto Maple Leafs are struggling to remain in a playoff spot in the NHL's Eastern Conference, their American Hockey League affiliate Toronto Marlies are flying high.

The Marlies are currently 21-15-3-2 and sit atop the AHL's North Division -- the play of Leafs prospect Joe Colborne is one of the main reasons why.

It has been 11 months since Colborne was acquired by Toronto in a deal that sent Tomas Kaberle to the Boston Bruins. The 21-year-old centre believes the move was a good one for his career.

"When I look at the situation I was in last year, right around this time, to where I am now, I feel like I'm a completely different player just in the way I think I've developed since getting traded here," Colborne told Brady & Lang on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Wednesday. "The opportunity the Leafs have given me has been unbelievable."

In 30 games with the Marlies this season, Colborne is thriving with 12 goals and 26 points and credits Marlies head coach Dallas Eakins for helping his development.

"It all comes down to the coaching staff for the Marlies, especially Dallas has given me a great opportunity to go out there and being a contributing player and I'm just trying to take advantage of it," Colborne said.

"He's helped me in many areas, not only just the defensive zone and stuff like that, but a huge thing for me was the confidence issue … he literally sat me down and said, 'Listen, we know you're going to make mistakes and we want you to go out there and make mistakes because that means you're making plays and generating chances for us.' To hear that was music to my ears and he really has the respect of every single guy from the veterans to the rookies and makes it so that each guy wants to go out and win for him and for the assistant coaches as well … He's one of the most inspiring people I've ever met."

Colborne said that his time in the AHL is preparing him well to play in an NHL market such as Toronto that demands so much from its young players such as Nazem Kadri, Luke Schenn and Jake Gardiner.

"You see the fan base here is second to none, so there's a lot of pressure you could say, but I love the pressure and I love being the guy who has the pressure on him," Colborne said.

"We have an opportunity here, we have the skill, we have the team to potentially make a good run at it. We want to make sure we don't get ahead of ourselves here, but (an AHL championship) would be a huge thing to be able to look back on and then maybe draw some experience on."

The next big challenge for the Marlies will be the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic. The Marlies take on the Hamilton Bulldogs at Ivor Wynne Stadium -- home of the Canadian Football League's Hamilton Ticats -- on Jan. 21.

Watch the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic live on Sportsnet Ontario, East, West and Pacific on Jan. 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET

"I grew up skating outside. My dad would always build me a rink," Colborne said. "I've obviously been watching all the outdoor classics, as a big hockey fan, so I'm excited to finally get to play one myself."

One week later, Colborne will participate in the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 29-30 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. Kadri was another Marlies forward selected to the game, but it is unclear whether or not he will participate as he is currently up with the Maple Leafs.