Quote:
Originally Posted by neo45
At the time I didn't really hate the pick but it does hurt now seeing three of the players passed on ALREADY being good in the NHL while Jankowski is still years away
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Now this I can understand. As opposed to we shouldnt have taken him and it was a waste of a pick. (Not that you are in that camp Neo).
Sure it hurts, but you must also remember that Maata plays on the Penguins with 2 of the top 5 best players in the world, and a pretty decent defence core - and the teenage mutant ninja Hertl was playing a lot of top line situations and minutes with jumbo Joe Thornton when he had that ridiculous 4 goal night - maybe the best set up guy in the NHL in the past 10 years. Heck look how he made Cheechoo look..
Am I saying these two players are only looking good because they are on amazing teams and getting top opportunities? No - but lets not forget that they probably wouldnt be as highly rated by the same fans if they (Maata and Hertl for example) were say in the AHL on the Heat, scoring at the pace of Billins or Granlund. or playing 3rd line / 3rd pairing minutes and scoring at the rate of Paul Byron or Shane O'Brien on the Flames. Which is exactly what they would be doing if we picked them in the early / mid first round.
I think the Flames may just have the last laugh on this one. I am very certain Mark will prove all the scouts and Weisbrod right because he has somethings you can't teach - size, hockey IQ and a natural offensive instinct.
Not to mention 99% of the CP users who are so appalled by the pick dont watch NCAA hockey and wouldnt know that Providence has just secured their first top 10 ranking in i believe the last 10 or so years..(correct me if I am wrong). Its not like Boston College or Michigan or even Yale (who only enjoyed at best modest success before their win last year). Jankowski is not playing with the top recruits in the NCAA circuit - but other project players just like himself. On top of that its known to be a defensive system at Providence and the kids not getting 1st line minutes, nor should he yet.
But just because he isnt putting up 1ppg in his first 2 seasons and isnt up for a hobie baker he is a bust of a 1st round pick already?
Please look past the numbers and into the deeper story. The kid has in my opinion done just fine for his first 2 years.
B+ rating from me for Janko for how he is developing.
Some fans be trippin'.
I am stoked on Mark. I call him Djanko - Djanko Unchained. He will be a monster for us. Just needs to fill out, move up the pecking order and have that 1st round pick swagger and confidence about him, like "I am the most talented player in this game". If he does that we have a steal of a pick who probably would have been top 10 in the next draft if he was 2 weeks younger.