Quote:
Originally Posted by saXon
If you feel like going on a journey through my posts, feel free to. You'll find I've been a Janko supporter since the beginning.
Most is exactly what it means. Most the hockey world, and the endless ongoing gripes through every prospect thread on CP that happens to turn into a Janko debate.
...unless of course you are blind and/or deaf. In that case, then thanks for coming out.
|
Enoch is right though - most never proclaimed him to be a bust. Lots of people were saying the Flames selected him too high, or that perhaps it was too 'risky' to pick a project, but there weren't that many 'this kid is a bust' proclamations. Most of those came through a handful of very vociferous posters on here. Most of the 'hockey world' never made any proclamations of him busting post-draft. Heck, even Friedman gave him a shout-out on HNIC after his crazy good 2 goals early in his NCAA career.
As for proclaiming him to be the next Spezza or Thornton - yeah, that is premature. However, it is much preferable in having to read that than to read more "Jankowski is a bust" posts, no? Besides, he is looking more and more like a future NHL player than not, and with his strengths (especially his size, skating, skills and IQ), I don't see any issues with people perhaps overrating him a bit. Heck, who knows how good this kid will end up becoming? It isn't like we are watching a big, burly player trying to suddenly discover his offensive game. The kid had a very real ceiling pre-draft as a top-line center. Lots of kids have that as their ceiling in scouting reports, and few ever come close to achieving it. Will Jankowski? Only time will tell. We all saw his offensive abilities throughout his NCAA career, even if it was just 'flashes' of it now and then. It was and still is very much there. Doesn't mean he is a guaranteed future top line center, but that possibility is not out of the question either, however doubtful.
You know the Flames are still relatively desperate for size in their top 6. And as for Colborne - I love him, and though he did well as a scorer in the NCAA, he doesn't have Jankowski's passing ability and vision. He isn't terrible at it (and I think he is rather underrated on the Flames in that regard), but nobody will mistake him for a playmaker. Jankowski has that, and he also has a pretty good shot he can get off quickly and accurately. I wouldn't say it would be a 'win' if Jankowski ends up becoming the next Colborne, but it wouldn't be bad either. Would still be a very useful player for the Flames.
I think Jankowski's 'floor' is that of Colborne right now (butI expect Colborne to still be developing and getting better). My bet is that Jankowski at least becomes as solid bottom-six player who is great in all zones for the Flames. How much offence he will actually be providing (and thus, how far up the lineup he solidifies himself in time) is the question for me, but absolutely nothing would surprise me at this point.
Kid has legitimate top-end skill, so just enjoy the highlights:
Those two goals that Friedman gushed over
Jankowski goal and assist. Good hands on the goal to redirect it, but the assist is something else. Why? Look where he is on it. People always say he never goes to this area of the ice, but here is a good example of him going straight to the net and trying to jam-in the puck - and this was in 2013!
Last season highlight package. Not nearly as good as what we are used to from AC, but at least you can see the skill. Notice his shot, notice his passing ability, notice how many times he is right in front of the net on his goals (shows he is willing to go to the dirty areas) and has the skills and presence of mind to elevate the puck fairly consistently.
There are no guarantees in how good Jankowski will or will not become, but I would bet my own dollar that he makes the NHL, and becomes an important contributor for the team. Whether that is in the bottom six or the top 6. Whether as a winger or a center. Whether that is being great at generating offence, or great at defence. I would just bet he becomes a pretty good player for the Flames in the long run.