The Jets selected Colby Barlow of the Owen Sound Attack with their first selection of the 2023 NHL Draft. But what type of player are they getting? According to the player himself Winnipeg gets:
“Good person first and foremost. And then play a 200-foot hard game. Play skilled as well. Get to the net, finish my routes. Get in the corner and just play a gritty game all night. Ya that’s what you’re getting.”
Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff had this to say about the Orillia, Ontario product:
“He plays the game the right way. He plays it hard, he plays it honest and can do the skill things too. It’s not like he’s a player just has one dimension. He’s got lots of different layers to his game.”
And oh ya he can “really shoot the puck” according to Cheveldayoff. You don’t say….
What does TSN’s Craig Button think of the selection? He shared his thoughts:
“The Winnipeg Jets draft Owen Sound Attack captain Colby Barlow. It would be remiss of me not to tell you that in every single draft I have a hockey player crush. And for me that is Colby Barlow. There is no area of the game where he’s not dialed in to help you win. He’s an excellent offensive player. He can shoot the puck but he can score in and around the net. He’s great along the boards. Great at playing the game in the hard body-on-body battles but he’s also an excellent penalty killer. We talk about 200-foot players. It’s great to say ‘I’m going to be a 200-foot player’ but Colby’s IQ is outstanding and when you understand what every area of the ice means and how you have to play in those different areas in those different situations, that’s Colby Barlow. Winnipeg Jets fans you can count on this 100% of the time. When Colby is playing he is going to give you 100% regardless of whoever he’s playing against, regardless of where he’s playing and as the challenges grow bigger and stronger he becomes better. An excellent addition to the Winnipeg Jets.”
Strong endorsement from the knowledgeable Button.
