Quote:
Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist
Based on what?
Best case he makes the NHL, but worst case he doesn't. There's absolutely nothing about his game that screams blue chip prospect. He shows flashes for sure, but most prospects do. I'm definitely higher on him than I was at this point last year, but he's not an "at worst he's still in the NHL" kind of player
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Just an opinion of course.
In his second year of college (and his first year at center) he is already being relied upon his coach to play in every key situation - Defending leads, penalty killing, etc. while still being one of Providence's leading scorers.
If he doesn't make the top six forward group on an NHL team, I don't see any reason why he couldn't play on a teams bottom six if his two-way game continues to develop - he plays with intelligence, he can be good in the face-off circle, and once he fills out he can easily out muscle other forwards to the puck.
Of course you can't guarantee that he is an NHL player - But given what possible roles he can play at the NHL it does provide a more positive outlook (in my view) in terms of his likelihood of making it. Some prospects HAVE to make the NHL as a top six player (or in a specific role) - I don't think this is necessarily the case with Jankowski which is why I think the "Best case he makes the NHL, but worst case he doesn't" is less of a worry to me (and is too simplistic in terms of looking at his upside) - In his case I see it as "Best case he is a top six forward, average case he is a bottom six forward, worst case he doesn't make the NHL."
There are more outcomes where in which he makes the NHL than he doesn't, which gives me more confidence in the "at worst he's still in the NHL" position I'm taking - I'm not excluding the possibility that he doesn't make the NHL though.