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Calgary4LIfe · 01-10-2019, 08:22 PM

I disagree with moving Jankowski out of center right now. Patience with him is key.

I really do see Jankowski developing along nicely. His defensive acumen is growing, though I am not sure if this is translating into positive advanced metrics. I do think he has continually been moving forward in his development.

The key for me whether to move a guy out of center and onto the wing is: "is his head below water consistently"? When I see Jankowski play, at times it is, and there are definitely moments in the game where his line is being hemmed in their zone (though there are times this is also said of every line, including Backlund's). I just don't see a guy that is overwhelmed out there, at least not for a long stretch anyway.

I also argue that Gulutzan simply didn't have the patience to keep Bennett at center and allow him to go through some growing pains (while also throwing Brouwer onto his shoulders when he did try it).

3rd line center is a great spot for Jankowski to grow in, and gives him a good amount of responsibility against most teams without having to consistently play against the league's best centers. Even when he does, he often doesn't look overwhelmed out there.

I like him at center. I think he is a good skater, he has a really long reach that helps him shield the puck/re-gain the puck, he seems to have a fairly high IQ and I really do think he is a good distributor of the puck. I definitely see him growing into a really good 2nd line center in time.

This will not get a lot of thanks (if any) but to me, Bennett SHOULD be that 2nd line center, and I bet he would have been by now had it not been for Gulutzan. The second best puck carrier on the team I think is Bennett. He keeps up with Gaudreau on those puck relay races. I just think that offensively, his confidence is about as high as a leprechaun at a giant's only mixer for singles. Bennett continually makes fantastic decisions defensively and has grown his game in every single facet that you want a center to realize growth in EXCEPT offensively (where he has notably regressed since his rookie season). If I am Peters and Ward, I am going to sit down with Bennett a tonne and do whatever it takes to get this kid going. If he does, this team will be that much more dangerous.

Let's just not screw up Jankowski. Sure, we have Dube coming up the ranks, but he may never be anywhere close to a top 6 scorer. I just hope the organization continues to show Jankowski the patience it has thus far. Who knows how good he will eventually get? He has the physical attributes (size, skating ability and hands) as well as the IQ to become a rather dominating center if his development doesn't stall.

01-10-2019, 08:22 PM	#24
Calgary4LIfe Franchise Player Join Date: Jun 2010 Exp:	I disagree with moving Jankowski out of center right now. Patience with him is key. I really do see Jankowski developing along nicely. His defensive acumen is growing, though I am not sure if this is translating into positive advanced metrics. I do think he has continually been moving forward in his development. The key for me whether to move a guy out of center and onto the wing is: "is his head below water consistently"? When I see Jankowski play, at times it is, and there are definitely moments in the game where his line is being hemmed in their zone (though there are times this is also said of every line, including Backlund's). I just don't see a guy that is overwhelmed out there, at least not for a long stretch anyway. I also argue that Gulutzan simply didn't have the patience to keep Bennett at center and allow him to go through some growing pains (while also throwing Brouwer onto his shoulders when he did try it). 3rd line center is a great spot for Jankowski to grow in, and gives him a good amount of responsibility against most teams without having to consistently play against the league's best centers. Even when he does, he often doesn't look overwhelmed out there. I like him at center. I think he is a good skater, he has a really long reach that helps him shield the puck/re-gain the puck, he seems to have a fairly high IQ and I really do think he is a good distributor of the puck. I definitely see him growing into a really good 2nd line center in time. This will not get a lot of thanks (if any) but to me, Bennett SHOULD be that 2nd line center, and I bet he would have been by now had it not been for Gulutzan. The second best puck carrier on the team I think is Bennett. He keeps up with Gaudreau on those puck relay races. I just think that offensively, his confidence is about as high as a leprechaun at a giant's only mixer for singles. Bennett continually makes fantastic decisions defensively and has grown his game in every single facet that you want a center to realize growth in EXCEPT offensively (where he has notably regressed since his rookie season). If I am Peters and Ward, I am going to sit down with Bennett a tonne and do whatever it takes to get this kid going. If he does, this team will be that much more dangerous. Let's just not screw up Jankowski. Sure, we have Dube coming up the ranks, but he may never be anywhere close to a top 6 scorer. I just hope the organization continues to show Jankowski the patience it has thus far. Who knows how good he will eventually get? He has the physical attributes (size, skating ability and hands) as well as the IQ to become a rather dominating center if his development doesn't stall.