Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
That was my thought as well.
If this shakes out as reported by Mackenzie, that is another, in a long line of solid contract signings for Treliving. I know some people don't like his first few (Engelland, Raymond etc) but as discussed many times, there was a reason for those. Regardless, since then, it has been nothing but solid negotiating.
He is hard nosed and persistent. Just what you want in a negotiator.
As for Jankowski, I agree with the assessment that this shows a level of maturity and long-term thinking. The kid seems to have a head on his shoulders.
Not to raise the Feaster debate again, but he and Weisbrod focused on character during their tenure, and they sure came up with a lot of character kids.
|
It seemed they actually kept the ball rolling with what was identified as requirements in a potential prospect under the Sutter regime actually - at least according to Todd Button. The refinement of what the Flames require in a prospect was developed and started being implemented around the 2008 draft year. The only tidbit that I managed to find out about Weisbrod and what he added to the team was that he forced the scouting staff to overlap areas so they could get different opinions on the same players (which is a big thing actually) - but otherwise, it seems he didn't add anything new in terms of identifiable traits in potential draftees.
Feaster's biggest gift was just allowing the existing scouting staff to do their work and give them the flexibility to do so, as well as hire additional scouting staff (which was also very important). Feaster did go on scouting trips now and then, but he himself would state that he is not an expert and deferred to Button and then Weisbrod when he was hired on.
As for the Jankowski signing.. happy it is done. I actually wrote out a long essay that would have made some people go
, but decided I will just say this instead:
Jankowski has come a LONG way in addressing his weaknesses at the draft to the point where he has turned them into huge strengths in his game. Remember, he came out of playing in a high school prep program after getting passed over in the OHL draft. That is a full tier (or 2??) below even the American high school prep program. He had no exposure to playing a really structured game, and probably didn't have much of a defensive acumen because of it. Now it is suddenly the biggest strength in his game? He has come a long ways.
I think most of you who haven't watched him at all (or at least, not much) will be pleasantly surprised with his game.
I am just going to make one stupid prediction - I bet that Jankowski spends more than half next season up on the Flames. Why? Because he is so very 'coach-able' and he is much more defensively sound player for a 22 year old (what he will be next season) than most are. Hartley (and most coaches) have trouble playing younger kids because those young kids make too many mistakes, especially in the defensive and neutral zones. Hartley will trust him more, and I bet he will be rewarded with some 2-unit PP time.
Look forward to finally seeing him in action. Hope to catch a couple of Stockton games before the season is over - and hopefully the posters here who watch them more regularly post your thoughts on his game at the pro-level!
Also, he is very much still a work in progress. It will be fun to watch how he enters the NHL next season and develops as he adjusts to it next year.