CALGARY – There aren’t many things linking the Calgary Flames to the Colorado Avalanche.
The two have never met in a playoff series, no current players have been employed by the other side, and there’s no hint of a rivalry between the two.
However, if anyone is in position to adjudicate the first-round series that will start Thursday it’s former Flame and Av Joe Colborne.
And the retired 29-year-old believes the Flames are on the verge of something special.
"I believe in what they can do and I believe this will be a coming out party, league-wide, for a few of the guys," said the University of Denver alumni who grew up in Calgary and played three seasons for the Flames before concluding his NHL career in Colorado two years ago.
"Sean Monahan, in my view, is the quietest perennial 30-goal scorer in the league right now. He’s in a Canadian market and you don’t hear enough about him. He hasn’t got the notoriety he deserves."
He thinks that’s about to change.
Ditto for a former linemate of his in Calgary who helped him net 19 goals in 2016.
"I think what will be a huge deciding factor in the series is the second line with Mikael Backlund," said Colborne.
"With me riding shotgun I saw first-hand he is a top five or 10 most underrated player in the league."
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Colborne currently lives in Denver where he is recovering from a concussion suffered two years ago that ended his career and prompted the former Bruins and Leafs prospect to stay out of the public eye.
Yet, he’s picking the Flames to win a series he’ll probably witness first hand in Calgary, where his family still lives and he keeps a condo along the Red Mile.
"I think the Flames for a few reasons — they have the depth," said Colborne who signed a two-year deal with the Avalanche in 2016.
"I think the second line of the Flames right now is at a level and has the ability to take over a series. I know I’m putting a little pressure on Backs but I wouldn’t do that if I didn’t think they were at that top level of players that is rare to not have on a first line.
"The top shut-down pair is going head-to-head against that (Avs) top line and the series has two of the top lines in the NHL."
Indeed, Backlund, Matthew Tkachuk and Michael Frolik will face the Avs famed trio of Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen, assuming he’s healthy enough to shed the non-contact jersey he wore at practice Monday.
"(Tkachuk) is the type of guy you want on your team in a playoff run. He’s developed that reputation from the incidents like the Doughty thing, and stuff like that. This is a chance for him to come out and take that next step in his career and start creating that legacy that this team has a window over the next few years of doing some damage."
A likeable sort who stays in touch with players on both teams, Colborne said the best chance the Avs would have at an upset would be if they could steal Game 1 by quieting the crowd and planting the seed of doubt in the minds of the top-ranked Flames.
"There’s something to be said about the ‘us against the world’ mentality – we took it several years ago when we (the Flames) beat Vancouver," said the former first-round pick of their 2015 upset.
"It brings a team together. The fans love an underdog. It’s a whole different beast when you have the expectations and have to follow through with it.
"It’s going to be tough for the Flames, there’s a lot of pressure on them they haven’t had before, Johnny (Gaudreau) and Monny haven’t had to go through that before where they’re the top dog.
"Do I think they’re going to succeed at it? Yes, because I think both of those guys have that clutch gene. They have that ability to, when the game seems to be slipping away from other people those two raise their game up all the time. Gio is the same way – he’s that calm influence on the back end that believes in himself and the team, that guys rally around."
Colborne sees plenty of similarities between the two clubs, especially salary-wise as stars like Gaudreau, Monahan, MacKinnon and Landeskog are signed to long-term, under-market contracts.
"Gio is playing at a level where he should be making $10 million a year," he said, raining endless praise on the Norris Trophy frontrunner’s work ethic and leadership.
"I think the world of Gio and Landy down here in Colorado and, not only that, Gio took over as captain from the most iconic Flame of all time in Iggy (Jarome Iginla). Those are some huge shoes to fill.
"Same with Landy down here taking over from Joe Sakic. Those guys weren’t just the face of the franchise but were the face of an entire city. They’re both comfortable in their own shoes and they’re both having career years.
"Obviously I’m excited for the series, but was hoping they wouldn’t meet in the first round so one has to be knocked out."
Citing the integral support he’s received through some "dark times" Colborne insists his good days outweigh the bad and hopes to partake in Red Mile festivities at some point.
"I’ll most likely be back there as much as I can to support the guys and there’s no better time in Calgary — including the Stampede — than when the Flames are on a playoff run," said Colborne.
"I got to witness that growing up as a fan (in 2004) and then a couple years ago as a player when we beat the Canucks and ended up losing to the Ducks. Those are some of the best moments of my life, and I’m just so excited for the guys."
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