Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - [News] Flames recall Jankowski UPD: Will center Bennett and Lazar vs NSH

Calgary4LIfe · 10-23-2017, 04:39 PM

The NHL is all about finding pairs that work. I think these work:

Gaudreau - Monahan
Frolik - Backlund

Everyone other pair is up in the air at this point. What we have seen work in the past with fairly high success - at least through long stretches - was this:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik

That, to me, is the 'safe' top six to come out with tomorrow. Yes, Ferland hasn't lit it up yet playing with those two, and the 3M line hasn't been 'on', but that worked for long stretches last year. Everyone knows what they are doing in the top 6. I think the 3M line isn't clicking because Backlund isn't quite himself for whatever reason, but I don't think there is any other player on the entire roster I worry about less. Ferland will come around sooner rather than later, I expect.

Now, as for pairs, I want to see Bennett and Jankowski together. If you read the NHL.com article, Jankowski really liked playing with Mangiapane and Hathaway (forming the AHL's most potent line thus far, by the way) because they forechecked hard and dug pucks out. Bennett and Lazar should be good for that.

I say Versteeg should be demoted to the 4th line personally. He has been a giveaway machine and hasn't been his usual self at creating out there, sans the PP (which he has been creating, but also turning pucks over). Either way, Bennett and Lazar (or Ferland) seem like the most similar to what Jankowski felt good with in the AHL. So the top 3 lines in this way will HOPEFULLY benefit from a sense of familiarity.

I do think that Bennett is top-line material. However, I also believe Jankowski to be top-line material too. I really do think that he can be a #1 center, and I argued with everyone's favorite Moon over this fact years ago. Jankowski is probably the Flames most 'dynamic' center organizationally, meaning that he does quite a number of things quite well.

I think his vision and playmaking (if not already) will be the best on the Flames. He is a traditional type of center in that he is a playmaking center, but is more than capable of scoring goals himself. He is fantastic in the new NHL with puck-possession being so important, and his puck protection is quite good (and hopefully Jagr can get in his ear during some practices to make it even more top-notch).

What I love most about Jankowski's play is how he uses his stick so effectively to create plays around or through players. It is very Mario Lemieux-like, and even Jagr like in that respect (and of course, here is the disclaimer that it is a style comparison only, not an expectation of career numbers).

He is also great at finding open space and shooting it, he is great at carrying the puck, he is great at finding guys through traffic with a nice pass, and he is great at coming back on defence. I really do think that in a couple of years, he will be very difficult for opposing teams to handle once he gains more experience and puts on a bit more muscle.

If I am the Flames, getting him up to speed at center would be really high on my list, especially with how poorly the depth scoring is contributing. Pair him with Bennett (or Tkachuk at least) and go from there. I don't think you will see Jankowski return to the AHL if he gets 2-3 games in and loosens up (if he is wound-up at all to begin with). Lines will get really interesting when Jagr gets back.

I still don't want Tkachuk on the top line with Gaudreau. Ferland doesn't do what Tkachuk does at all. Ferland has stepped-in when there was a need to step in, but he is not causing anything. Sure, Gaudreau wouldn't be fighting anyone, but there is still an increased level of risk of an injury having him out there wrestling guys. Backlund and Frolik have done it without fighting, and I also expect Gaudreau wouldn't be fighting either, but I do think it would actually throw him off his game somewhat and possibly end in an injury by wrestling around on the ice too much.

When Jagr returns, I would expect the lines to be more or less this way:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Jagr
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Jankowski - Ferland
Versteeg - Lazar - Brouwer
Stajan

I think Stajan and Lazar end up subbing in and out. That looks like a really nice lineup to me, at least when Jagr gets going a little bit more (which, in my opinion, he was starting to look better and better every game).

I really doubt that Jankowski will ever play in the AHL again.

10-23-2017, 04:39 PM	#193
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	The NHL is all about finding pairs that work. I think these work: Gaudreau - Monahan Frolik - Backlund Everyone other pair is up in the air at this point. What we have seen work in the past with fairly high success - at least through long stretches - was this: Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik That, to me, is the 'safe' top six to come out with tomorrow. Yes, Ferland hasn't lit it up yet playing with those two, and the 3M line hasn't been 'on', but that worked for long stretches last year. Everyone knows what they are doing in the top 6. I think the 3M line isn't clicking because Backlund isn't quite himself for whatever reason, but I don't think there is any other player on the entire roster I worry about less. Ferland will come around sooner rather than later, I expect. Now, as for pairs, I want to see Bennett and Jankowski together. If you read the NHL.com article, Jankowski really liked playing with Mangiapane and Hathaway (forming the AHL's most potent line thus far, by the way) because they forechecked hard and dug pucks out. Bennett and Lazar should be good for that. I say Versteeg should be demoted to the 4th line personally. He has been a giveaway machine and hasn't been his usual self at creating out there, sans the PP (which he has been creating, but also turning pucks over). Either way, Bennett and Lazar (or Ferland) seem like the most similar to what Jankowski felt good with in the AHL. So the top 3 lines in this way will HOPEFULLY benefit from a sense of familiarity. I do think that Bennett is top-line material. However, I also believe Jankowski to be top-line material too. I really do think that he can be a #1 center, and I argued with everyone's favorite Moon over this fact years ago. Jankowski is probably the Flames most 'dynamic' center organizationally, meaning that he does quite a number of things quite well. I think his vision and playmaking (if not already) will be the best on the Flames. He is a traditional type of center in that he is a playmaking center, but is more than capable of scoring goals himself. He is fantastic in the new NHL with puck-possession being so important, and his puck protection is quite good (and hopefully Jagr can get in his ear during some practices to make it even more top-notch). What I love most about Jankowski's play is how he uses his stick so effectively to create plays around or through players. It is very Mario Lemieux-like, and even Jagr like in that respect (and of course, here is the disclaimer that it is a style comparison only, not an expectation of career numbers). He is also great at finding open space and shooting it, he is great at carrying the puck, he is great at finding guys through traffic with a nice pass, and he is great at coming back on defence. I really do think that in a couple of years, he will be very difficult for opposing teams to handle once he gains more experience and puts on a bit more muscle. If I am the Flames, getting him up to speed at center would be really high on my list, especially with how poorly the depth scoring is contributing. Pair him with Bennett (or Tkachuk at least) and go from there. I don't think you will see Jankowski return to the AHL if he gets 2-3 games in and loosens up (if he is wound-up at all to begin with). Lines will get really interesting when Jagr gets back. I still don't want Tkachuk on the top line with Gaudreau. Ferland doesn't do what Tkachuk does at all. Ferland has stepped-in when there was a need to step in, but he is not causing anything. Sure, Gaudreau wouldn't be fighting anyone, but there is still an increased level of risk of an injury having him out there wrestling guys. Backlund and Frolik have done it without fighting, and I also expect Gaudreau wouldn't be fighting either, but I do think it would actually throw him off his game somewhat and possibly end in an injury by wrestling around on the ice too much. When Jagr returns, I would expect the lines to be more or less this way: Gaudreau - Monahan - Jagr Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik Bennett - Jankowski - Ferland Versteeg - Lazar - Brouwer Stajan I think Stajan and Lazar end up subbing in and out. That looks like a really nice lineup to me, at least when Jagr gets going a little bit more (which, in my opinion, he was starting to look better and better every game). I really doubt that Jankowski will ever play in the AHL again.