I still think Colton will learn our system better and will be much better on the defensive side of the puck next season, after a full off-season to watch tape and what not. I'm also hopeful he can pick it up for the playoffs this year. I don't think he'll ever have Compher's hockey IQ, but hopefully his physicality can make up for that.
Compher's a slightly better offensive player, but I'll still take Colton over him as the more multi dimensional player in a 3C role.
JTC was very streaky. He'd regularly go 20+ games without producing much, and when he wasn't producing, he basically didn't contribute anything at all. He was pretty much invisible out there.
Wasn't that great defensively, wasn't good at faceoffs, didn't help his linemates as a playmaker, wasn't physical, wasn't gritty, didn't cause havoc around the net, mostly played around the perimeter, and he stopped playing a true agitating style after his first or second year.
At least when Colton isn't producing, he can change the momentum with a big hit, or by being tenacious around the net, or getting under the opponents skin and drawing a penalty, or starting a scrum to build some emotion for the team, or get the opposition off their game. Not every game, but much more often.
That makes up for the 10 point difference in production from JTC in my book. As a 2C, where offense is the primary part of that role, maybe you go with JTC, but I'll take Colton in a 3C role. I think Colton can be a better playoff performer as well.