Quote:
Originally Posted by moon
He is a kid that most Flames fans (and even the Flames) will admit is more of a 2-3 years away kid than 1-2 years so may not be at the level that many of the other kids are at now.
He also is at a smaller NCAA school that had a mediocre season and was a late first rounder.
The point wasn't that his uncle got him on the team (don't think that kind of crap happens at the WJHC level) but that he is a guy that could have fallen through the cracks and having a guy that knows a lot about him makes sense as to why he may have been brought up in the conversation as opposed to being passed over in such a tight competition with so many deserving guys.
I think he is on the team because the team canada staff think he is good enough not his because his uncle is the Head Scout. Just makes more sense to me that they looked at him.
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What centers do you have ranked ahead of Jankowski then? I don't think he makes it if MacKinnon, Laughton and Monahan are available. If they are not, I think Jankowski makes the team. Curious who you have in that camp that are ahead of Jankowski's development. I think he would be one of the more skilled centers available, and with size which is always an advantage (especially when that size can skate).
Gauthier and Gaunce are less talented and fit the 4th line checking line. Domi and Horvat are arguably ahead - but you can argue that Jankowski is ahead as he spent the past year playing at a higher level, and will have another 1/3 season or so of additional experience in a higher league. Not sure where to rank Lazar as compared to the rest. Reinhart is a wildcard - he could be ahead of all of them (well, the ones that are expected to make summer camp at least). There are others as well, but I don't see them clear-cut 'better' than Jankowski. If he has a good camp, and starts his season well, he will simply be on the team I think.
I think it was TSN that re-ranked the 2012 draft by polling scouts, and Jankowski was ranked 25th from that draft. Keep in mind that it includes all non-Canadian players as well. Seems to be a legitimate prospect who isn't too far back from the crowd if at all, in my opinion.