Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkGio
Yes of course I am. 
I've watched all the highlight packages that's posted here and on YouTube. I never said anything before because I've waited until he's developed, but now that he's a senior and has filled out and started producing, it's easier to criticize. |
Well I respectfully disagree. He maybe doesn't have that explosive first step with the puck that Sam Bennett shows, but his overall wheels have impressed me enough. I think he may be a comparable skater to Mikael Backlund. Jump to 3:31 of this video, as Jankowski hops onto the ice from the bench:
Not only is he able to make a nice diagonal to cut the guy off in open ice, he shows the balance to stop on a dime and make a play with his stick. Then going the other way, he coasts for a moment, but you see a little burst of urgent acceleration
just as he passes the offensive blue line (3:42). Then watch his acceleration at 3:54 near the red line.
As for backward skating, I have a bit of a suspicion that he may be a smoother backwards skater than any player who's played on our team this year except for Brodie, Russell, Kulak and Gaudreau. His backwards skating is one of his best assets. We'll have to see how it looks in the pros against faster forwards but I feel it's going to impress.