Jankowski vs Bennett - Battle for the #3C?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by jayswin

That's a very solid line-up, love it top to bottom. I would just maybe swap out Lazar and Ferland if Ferland can keep up with those two guys. He's deadly when he's on his game.

It was hard to moveFeland down, but Gulutzan has said he strongly believes in the RH shot versus LH shot stuff, so Lazar on the top line sort of makes sense. Personally, I really like Ferland up top. Brings all the things missing on that line, but in the Gulutzan system, he may be better with Bennett.

[Mightyfire89]

IMO, Bennett's best possibility of future success is playing as a winger. As others have mentioned, he doesn't seem suited for Center, given his predilection for trying to do it all by himself. As a winger, I think he'd feel free to play his game. My longish term prediction is that Jankowski is going to be a very effective top 9 C on this team and Bennett is going to be a 55-70 pt winger with a lot of grit and the ability to fill in at Center when required.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I don't think Lazar has shown anything in his career that would indicate he's a top line player. I think he's one of the least likely options to play with Gaudreau/Monahan. 4th line centre would seem to be his ideal role on the team long term IMO. I think he has 3rd line upside but with our centre depth he'll always get pushed to 4th line centre when we're healthy. I do think he could play 3rd line RW but it's hard to fit him there when everyone is healthy

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Can someone explain to me what about Bennett's play makes him a strong centre? I was under the impression that the qualities that earmark a centre are:

* Vision

* Puck distribution

* Defensive awareness and responsibility

Those qualities don't jump out at me when I watch Bennett play.

I'd say what I bolded is the #1 priority of a centre. Gone are the days of LW Bob Gainey handling this. When he masters this he'll get more ice time to pad his stats.

When comparing
Bennett with Monahan, Monahan had a lot less competition at the centre spot. I think even Bouma was getting time at centre.

[FireGilbert]

There is currently no battle for the 3rd line centre. Right now it is Bennett as #3, Stajan as #4 and Jankowski as #5. Janko will be given every opportunity to pass Stajan however.

There may be a third line battle between Bennett and Jankowski in a year or two and in that case one of them will need to convert to the wing or be traded for a winger.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I don't think Lazar has shown anything in his career that would indicate he's a top line player.

You mean unlike Ferland, prior to the middle of last season?

[Eric Vail]

Jankowski has to prove he belongs in the NHL. Until he has some success in the big league, he doesn't push anyone around on the depth chart.

There are lots of players who had more going for them than Jankowski does and failed in the NHL. I hope he does well, but I think he is over-rated by many here. He has played 6 years of hockey since he was drafted and only has 1 NHL game to his credit. Most players in that situation don't have lengthy NHL careers.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by New Era

You mean unlike Ferland, prior to the middle of last season?

Wrong. Ferland saw some time with Monahan/Gaudreau while Hartley was still here and I thought he easily looked like the best fit with them that year. He showed glimpses of what he was going to do this year and that's why some of us were very bullish on him. He showed good passing, vision, chemistry and complemented Gaudreau's weaknesses

[edslunch]

I see Jankowski as 4th line centre, and let him ease into being an NHL centre, or as a winger his first year. It's not realistic IMO for him to step into a 3C role

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

There are lots of players who had more going for them than Jankowski does and failed in the NHL. I hope he does well, but I think he is over-rated by many here. He has played 6 years of hockey since he was drafted and only has 1 NHL game to his credit. Most players in that situation don't have lengthy NHL careers.

Oh, the hyperbole. Jankowski was drafted in 2012.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Oh, the hyperbole. Jankowski was drafted in 2012.

so... 5 years not 6....

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Kind of silly to use Jankowski's slow development as a slight on him when he was drafted as a skinny prospect out of Quebec prep school and when drafted was thought to be needing 5 years of development.

Basically he's right on track. Development has gone as planned and as expected. If you're knocking him based on that you didn't really understand the situation

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Kind of silly to use Jankowski's slow development as a slight on him when he was drafted as a skinny prospect out of Quebec prep school and when drafted was thought to be needing 5 years of development.

Basically he's right on track. Development has gone as planned and as expected. If you're knocking him based on that you didn't really understand the situation

I've got my mind made up, don't confuse me with the facts!

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Kind of silly to use Jankowski's slow development as a slight on him when he was drafted as a skinny prospect out of Quebec prep school and when drafted was thought to be needing 5 years of development.

Basically he's right on track. Development has gone as planned and as expected. If you're knocking him based on that you didn't really understand the situation

not sure if this was directed at me or not...

my comment was based on calling the difference between 6 years and 5 years hyperbolic... as opposed to say, an honest mistake...

as you said janko's development is on track to what most expected, not faster than expected, but not slower either

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

not sure if this was directed at me or not...

No, it related to Eric Vail's post earlier, sorry for the confusion

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

There are lots of players who had more going for them than Jankowski does and failed in the NHL. I hope he does well, but I think he is over-rated by many here. He has played 6 years of hockey since he was drafted and only has 1 NHL game to his credit. Most players in that situation don't have lengthy NHL careers.

[Stay Golden]

If Jankowski pushes Bennett for the 3 spot that would be a very good sign how prepared he is for this leap or not. Personally I would like Bennett on the wing anyways.

[JohnnyTitan]

I think I've been talked into switching Stajan to the wing!!

[Eric Vail]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

No, it related to Eric Vail's post earlier, sorry for the confusion

I hope Jankowski has a 10+ year career with the Flames as a 2nd/3rd line centre. I think it is just as likely that he washes out without making an impact.

He is a prospect who hasn't proven anything in the NHL.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I hope Jankowski has a 10+ year career with the Flames as a 2nd/3rd line centre. I think it is just as likely that he washes out without making an impact.

He is a prospect who hasn't proven anything in the NHL.

I don't think it's just as likely he washes out anymore. He's played a year of pro hockey now and was pretty dominant as a 22 year old rookie. His offense translated and that is a great sign IMO.

If he'd done what he did last year but was 5'8 170lbs, or if he was a terrible skater, I'd be much more reluctant to pencil him in as an NHLer. But he's not, he's 6'4 215lbs and skates really well.

Size won't hold him back, skating won't hold him back. I think at worst he will be a defensively strong 3rd/4th line C in the NHL now. More likely a decent 2-way #2C though.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Eric Vail

I hope Jankowski has a 10+ year career with the Flames as a 2nd/3rd line centre. I think it is just as likely that he washes out without making an impact.

He is a prospect who hasn't proven anything in the NHL.

But he did prove to have a really good first professional season, which is much better than nothing. Jankowski's recent progression actually fairly strongly suggests that he will be a NHL player, and probably a pretty good one.

The point here being that one cannot simply extrapolate from the long duration of his development to conclude that he is likely to wash out of the NHL.