Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] With the 21st overall pick Flames select C Mark Jankowski

Calgary4LIfe · 03-25-2017, 05:39 PM

I absolutely feel that Backlund is a core piece. He is also everything you want for a 'veteran leader'. His entire career he has done exactly what has been asked from him through different coaches, and I will argue that nobody on the team works as hard in each and every shift. I have literally seen Backlund have maybe 1.5 games this season where I thought he looked off. This is a player you keep, a player you throw out against the NHL's best lines and know he will do a great job against them, and a player you want to point at and say: "Look at that guy, and try to do what he does."

As for Jankowski - He is forcing his way up onto the Flames. Organizationally, you bet that they wanted him as a center, but what do you do now? You don't move Backlund to make room for him (you don't move Backlund at all). You aren't going to displace Monahan at this point. You also want Bennett to realize his full potential as a center and hopefully give him some time, though there is nothing written in stone yet when it comes to Bennett.

Anyway you shake it down, the Flames will be rolling 3 lines from next season based on LW-Center combos.

Gaudreau - Monahan
Tkachuk - Backlund
Bennett/Jankowski - Bennett/Jankowski

I think Jankowski will make a very good center in the NHL. The way he uses his reach to get into passing lanes, how well he protects the puck around players, how well he can pass, and his shot seems to always be improving. I will be 100% happy having him as a center and Bennett as a winger, but I think it can go either way as well. Heck, maybe they trade-off depending on what that match-up is per game? Who the heck knows.

All I know is that this team is going to have some serious center depth (and LW depth) for a long time. Couple that with how young the D-core is, and how many legitimately good prospects the Flames have there, and this is a team that I feel is poised to compete for many years to come. Still some holes - RW, goalie is still a bit of a question mark moving forward - but I do think the roster is coming together.

For RW, you don't need guys at the same level as your LW and center - just guys that can fit in and compliment a line. Ideally, you want somebody with a good RHS to tee up some one-timers on the PP to give it a more dynamic look, you want a bit of ruggedness and speed to keep up, and there are enough goalie prospects and available goalies league-wide to think that there may be a fit soon (if Elliott ends up not being that fit long-term).

All I know is I can't wait to see Jankwoski regularly in the NHL. I really love how he plays and how he sees the ice.

03-25-2017, 05:39 PM	#2786
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I absolutely feel that Backlund is a core piece. He is also everything you want for a 'veteran leader'. His entire career he has done exactly what has been asked from him through different coaches, and I will argue that nobody on the team works as hard in each and every shift. I have literally seen Backlund have maybe 1.5 games this season where I thought he looked off. This is a player you keep, a player you throw out against the NHL's best lines and know he will do a great job against them, and a player you want to point at and say: "Look at that guy, and try to do what he does." As for Jankowski - He is forcing his way up onto the Flames. Organizationally, you bet that they wanted him as a center, but what do you do now? You don't move Backlund to make room for him (you don't move Backlund at all). You aren't going to displace Monahan at this point. You also want Bennett to realize his full potential as a center and hopefully give him some time, though there is nothing written in stone yet when it comes to Bennett. Anyway you shake it down, the Flames will be rolling 3 lines from next season based on LW-Center combos. Gaudreau - Monahan Tkachuk - Backlund Bennett/Jankowski - Bennett/Jankowski I think Jankowski will make a very good center in the NHL. The way he uses his reach to get into passing lanes, how well he protects the puck around players, how well he can pass, and his shot seems to always be improving. I will be 100% happy having him as a center and Bennett as a winger, but I think it can go either way as well. Heck, maybe they trade-off depending on what that match-up is per game? Who the heck knows. All I know is that this team is going to have some serious center depth (and LW depth) for a long time. Couple that with how young the D-core is, and how many legitimately good prospects the Flames have there, and this is a team that I feel is poised to compete for many years to come. Still some holes - RW, goalie is still a bit of a question mark moving forward - but I do think the roster is coming together. For RW, you don't need guys at the same level as your LW and center - just guys that can fit in and compliment a line. Ideally, you want somebody with a good RHS to tee up some one-timers on the PP to give it a more dynamic look, you want a bit of ruggedness and speed to keep up, and there are enough goalie prospects and available goalies league-wide to think that there may be a fit soon (if Elliott ends up not being that fit long-term). All I know is I can't wait to see Jankwoski regularly in the NHL. I really love how he plays and how he sees the ice.