Quote:
Originally Posted by flambers
Bennett is the player that Jankowski is competing with.
Top 2 Center's are set and the Flames seem to like Stajan
|
Yes, this is how I see it as well. Treliving said Jankowski was an NHL player and yet he signed Jagr. The competition for young guys to grab the spots were on the wing. When they stated none of the young guys grabbed them I think they were referring to Foo and probably Hathaway.
Jankowski was never tried on the wing in any of the preseason games, if he was going to make it was (and is) as a centre. The team wants Bennett to be a centre so I think the long term plan is that when Stajan's contract is done that's when you will see the four home grown centres.
Gulutzan made comments about not having all the best players on the roster and that you need good defensive centres in the bottom six.
Quote:
A quick glance at a mock opening day lineup — and pre-season prognostications of a depth-chart push from a young centre such as Mark Jankowski — might indicate Stajan will be playing sparingly during the ’17-18 season, as the Flames try to improve from last year’s first-round ousting by the Anaheim Ducks.
But others disagree, including Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan, who has no immediate plans to drastically cut Stajan’s ice-time and has said the veteran will start the year centering the Calgary club’s fourth line.
“Matty will have the same role as last year,” Gulutzan said. “When you’re putting together a team, it’s not just saying, ‘OK. Let’s just put in all of the best players.’ You have to put in the best players at the positions. The best defensive centres, the best checking forwards …
|
http://calgaryherald.com/sports/hock...-i-want-to-win
The analytics crowd (and others) would holler at this because they would prefer skilled players on all four lines but the above quote is a top 9 plus a grinding checking line.
It was a pretty much a foregone conclusion Jankowski was not making the team, unless Bennett failed miserably in the preseason or there was an injury to the other two centres.
However I'm inclined to believe that Gulutzan's quote is more about readying the fanbase to accept Stajan as centre for this year only. He is an important player to the organization for more than on ice stuff. And I don't necessarily disagree with it. You can't be that ruthless to your guys - when there is flexibility with Jankowski waiver status.
Next year I think they will have no problems with Jankowski on the fourth line if Bennett is remains a centre long term in the organization's agenda.