This is how I look at Jankowski since he has been drafted from the Flames:
- Billed as a project due to his
- Lack of quality competition
- Lower level of hockey system employed in his league
- Lack of physical development
- Huge growth spurt in the previous 18 months
- 'Super Skilled High-Ceiling Center
- Touted as the next Joe Nieuwendyk
- No other center past where Grigorenko was selected had as much upside
- Already had the height but needed to fill into it
- Achieved just over 0.5 PPG
- On a team that that is below average in scoring relying on defensive systems and a hot goalie to eke out wins
- On a team with few skilled players
- In one of the (if not the most) toughest divisions in NCAA
The above just makes me think he had a pretty decent season. Not a 'wow' season for sure, but considering all the factors above, i was relatively pleased with how it went. This kid was a project. We all hoped that he would just be amazing in the NCAA, but he is what he is - a project.
We can analyze all the stats until we are all blue in the face. Both the 'pro' crowd who seem to be huge fanboys of his, and the 'con' crowd who are suspect of this pick and his progress thus far can (and have) made very valid points. Both sides are 'right', and neither side is proven wrong thus far. What this kid needs at the moment, is some patience, some good development, and a really good off-season development plan (which apparently is going extremely well).
I am hoping he 'busts out' next season and really does something to make us all believe in him. I am tempering my expectations, however. He is still a project. Like Mastodon posted earlier - as long as he is improving month-to-month and year-to-year, it will be positive. I am sure MOST will agree that the Flames needed to pick a 'home-run' prospect at that draft. I think they did that. What is left to be determined is if indeed that ball is flying out of the ball-park, or is about to be caught as a fly ball. The next 2 years at least will determine that.
I think he is by the far the biggest enigma in the prospect pool. Gaudreau, Jankowski and Ferland all possess qualities that make them potentially critical impact players for the future. All of them have question marks as to whether they have the capability to even make the big show, much less be impact players at all. They all require more time to see where they are going.
Jankowski in particular is a very tough guy to measure statistically. There are just so many variables to him, so many question marks, but also lots of tangible upsides to him as a prospect. He is still a high-skill, high-reward but a wildcard.
However, I completely wrote off Gaudreau when the Flames selected him. Though he hasn't made the big show yet, and nobody really knows how successful (or not) the kid will be, there is very real excitement (and with good reason) surrounding this kid. Jankowski just needs to build up some confidence and continue developing. He has a great coach in Nate Leaman who has a VERY good track record and who should help Jankowski become a better player.
What is left is to see how he does. I was able to watch a couple of games this past season, and Jankowski has flashes of brilliance, but also looked a bit raw to me. The skill is undeniable. You can't teach skill. He is a strong skater. With the right development, there is no reason to believe he will not be a player in the NHL - even an impact top 6 (or daresay - #1 Center), but that still remains to be seen and he has to progress in this next couple of years. For myself, I am just preaching a little bit of patience. If Jankowski lights it up next year, I will try to temper my own expectation and will want another strong season. If he meets or just slightly exceeds his past season, I will temper that too and just wait to see what the finished project looks like. He is still a project.