Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[dammage79]

I've always been under the impression that Jankowski was going to go the full four years of college. We're in year 3. Still on pace to best his previous seasons points production.

By all accounts has improved his all around play this year.

Even if the Flames do not sign him. the 2nd round pick they get back will be right in the wheel house of where he was originally projected anyways.

I do feel like Jankowski will sign his ELC in CGY. And get a couple of year in the AHL before they write him off. I don't think they're going to give up on the asset until they see what he can do after he turns pro.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by CalgaryFan1988

So, we would get a 2nd and someone like say........Vancouver could sign him as a UFA. Almost like we'd trade him to Vancouver for a 2nd......

I know that was tongue in cheek but you have Weisbrod in Vancouver who has the ear of Benning and was instrumental in the selection of Jankowski. Vancouver also has pre-Benning draft picks in Jensen and Gaunce who their organization doesn't seem too keen on and have no attachment to given that these are Gillis' picks.

Can see Jankowski shipped out for one of these prospects or sent to another team who had interest in drafting him (have to remember we weren't the only ones interested in taking him in the first round), if the current regime doesn't see him as part of the future plans.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Perhaps. Honestly I don't really have a good feel for how the guy is viewed in the organization.
If they take the pick where does it land in the 2nd round? At the very end?

The fact is - a 2nd v. Janko isn't a clear decision. He has not developed to the point that it is a slam dunk - so I think there is a debate to have here within the Flames decision makers about whether they take the prospect or take the pick.

I wouldn't say he is a slam dunk either - and I am not sure there is a bigger "pro-Jankowski" poster on these forums than myself. I did expect more offence from him as well, but at the same time, he hasn't been bad. You do still see progression, and as long as I see that, I think Jankowski will eventually be signed and will get a shot.

Offensively, he does have moments that wow you. They don't happen as often as I would like, but at least it shows that he does have that potential. I also really like the fact that he seems to be harder to knock off the puck, and he is going to the dirty areas much more frequently, and with more determination.

In trying to figure out what how the organization views him, the best I can do is try to look at him a bit more objectively and compare him to what the Flames are trying to build - what the Flames' identity is - and how he does or doesn't fit. I do see a fit there.

He is big (Flames want to get bigger)
He is a great skater - I think in Hartley's system, that is a mandatory trait.
He has a good 2-way game already - something that again, is mandatory in Hartley's system.

Unless his progression stalls, I don't see the Flames giving up on Jankowski. I think at the very least, he will provide Stockton with a good utility center that will help others develop. The potential is still there that he becomes much more than that, and given his faceoff abilities and his ever-growing defensive game, he may end up being that 3rd line center for Calgary. There is a lot of competition in the depth roles, however.

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

It's funny how a few uneventful months can change the mood of this thread.

The Jankowski supporters are few and far between now. There's nothing wrong with hoping for the best with your teams prospects, but it also helps to be realistic.

He's not considered a bust yet, but there appears to be a slim chance that he reaches anywhere close to what his ceiling was indicated as.

You may be right - the chances are probably smaller that he reaches his ceiling as "the next Joe Nieuwendyk". However, I do think his floor has risen dramatically. I think the potential to bust is much lowered because he has put on the weight (which was a question mark), and he has become a good defensive player (again, the other big question mark at the draft).

Still, I wouldn't write off his offence at the moment. I haven't been encouraged by his offensive production, but I haven't exactly been discouraged either. He is only 20 and there is still time for him to start putting it together - the rest of this season, the following season, and then a look at how he does once he turns pro. The main thing with projects (and this is exactly what Jankowski was at the draft) is that you don't get too high or too low, and just remain patient and see where things go.

Teravainen for me is the guy that I personally compare Jankowski to - this organization needed a center badly. Teravainen is not much further along than Jankowski is, and has turned into a project himself. Maatta sure looks like a great pick - but then again, will he be able to keep remaining healthy? Will he continue to take steps forward in his progression? Point is, not only is it too early to tell who the best of the 2012 draft is, it becomes even more difficult when you factor in a project pick.

My personal summary of Jankowski is:

Project pick with a few moments of sheer offensive awesomeness, but an ever growing ability defensively and in the faceoff dot. He is a project, but I do think you have to be a bit overly negative to be down on him considering the strides he has made, and only being 20 years old (doesn't turn 21 until September). Keeping all of that in mind, and I don't look at him as a disappointment thus far.

[Inglewood Jack]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Teravainen for me is the guy that I personally compare Jankowski to - this organization needed a center badly. Teravainen is not much further along than Jankowski is, and has turned into a project himself.

so, Teravainen is playing NHL hockey...like right now, on one of the league's elite teams. could you explain a bit more on how that makes him a project that is not much further ahead than Janko?

my approach with this guy is to just expect nothing, and hopefully one day be pleasantly surprised.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Agreed, Teravainen replaced (might still be replacing) Kane on the top line. He has a long way to go, but he is miles ahead of Jankowski at this point. I still think Jankowski might end up being the better player, but at this point it's a bad comparison.

18gp 3g 2a 5pts this season.

[Vulcan]

Burke said that Jankowski needed to be more assertive and it's fair to ask if he has taken that advice to heart.

This is where I have a problem with Jankowski. I watch and listen to Bennett and he's got that aggression. Others are more quiet about but they've still got. Look at a player like Byron. It's a stretch to say he should he be in the NHL with his size and skill but he wants it bad, so here he is.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

I guess with Baertschi out of the fold, time to turn our (negative) attention on Jankowski. I think going into the year, I was hoping for close to a point per game pace. He is well below that, but no one on the team hit that mark. Seems like he had a good, not great year. Not sure why the rush to write him off.

[AcGold]

Let him get some man strength. If he hits 215 pounds he'll be getting a ppg, right now he's just a kid and he'll need size to back up his game in the pros. 6'4'' centreman are rare, let the kid grow into his body. With a tall lanky player like Mark it's pretty much a given that he'll take longer to reach his potential because he won't have the speed like Johnny or the toughness of Jooris for a while.

[getbak]

Roger Millions tweeted that Jankowski and the rest of the Boston-area prospects (Gillies, Gilmour, and Hickey) are at the game tonight. So, they haven't given up on him yet.

[Moneyhands23]

I tthink mark is still a decent prospect. He just isn't "the best player from the draft".

Would be nice to see him round out into a dangerous 3rd liner that can put up 25-35 points and be a plus player.

Wonder if he waits another year before going pro?

[FeyWest]

You never know what can happen once he gets to the Flames. Look at guys like Jooris, Monahan, Brodie, Gaudreau, all with potential and some showing it earlier than others. Confidence and experienced mentors go a long way into unlocking the hidden potential. I like what we have in Janko, if he becomes another solid 2-way player he could become the next Backlund. Not suggesting replace him but you need players like that especially center.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by FeyWest

You never know what can happen once he gets to the Flames. Look at guys like Jooris, Monahan, Brodie, Gaudreau, all with potential and some showing it earlier than others. Confidence and experienced mentors go a long way into unlocking the hidden potential. I like what we have in Janko, if he becomes another solid 2-way player he could become the next Backlund. Not suggesting replace him but you need players like that especially center.

Yup.

Wasn't Regehr a big guy that played kind of soft until he was mentored by Boughner and Rhett on the Flames.

Never know what happens with a guy that has all the natural skills, that just need to be unlocked.

[AC]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Yup.

Wasn't Regehr a big guy that played kind of soft until he was mentored by Boughner and Rhett on the Flames.

Never know what happens with a guy that has all the natural skills, that just need to be unlocked.

Reggie had already established the Tunnel of Death before Warrener joined the team in 03/04.

Boughner joined in 01/02, which is closer to when Reggie found his game.

[sureLoss]

Updated "context" charts. Jankowski's numbers took a nose dive as he went relatively cold while his teammates went hot.





These charts attempt to track Jankowski's progress offensively in context with the two closest comparables to his situation: Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes.

I feel they are comparables because:

• all 3 were drafted out of high school late 1st round (Kreider 19th OA 2009, Hayes 24th OA 2010, Jankowski 21st OA 2012)
• all 3 are big bodied forwards (or at least tall)
• all 3 went on to play in Hockey East right after being drafted

Notable differences are:

• Jankowski was drafted out of Canadian high school while Hayes and Kreider came from US high schools
• Kreider and Hayes play for a better offensive team in BC, while Jankowski plays for a more defensive team
• Kreider played LW for all his time in BC
• Hayes played C for the majority of his first 2 years, then switched to primarily RW for his last 2 years
• Jankowski started LW then moved to center in his 2nd year

This doesn't necessarily prove anything. Doesn't mean Jankowski is better or worse than those 2 guys. Just puts into context what Jankowski's offence is relative to the two other guys.

Also doesn't necessarily mean anything if Jankowski fails to meet the curve set by Hayes or Kreider. Again just context.

[MrMastodonFarm]

These are great, thanks sureLoss.

[RyZ]

I'd love to see Janko move on from the Providence system and join Stockton next year. It will tell us a lot if he can/can't be effective in the AHL at his age.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I do wonder if all the Friars guys will stay for another year. They have a really good team next year and should only be better with those guys maturing another year. They'll be losing Luke and Mauermann but guys like Jankowski, Mingioa, Sarasino should step up.

They have a chance for the big title this year, could be another contender next year.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

so, Teravainen is playing NHL hockey...like right now, on one of the league's elite teams. could you explain a bit more on how that makes him a project that is not much further ahead than Janko?

my approach with this guy is to just expect nothing, and hopefully one day be pleasantly surprised.

He is in the NHL now - maybe it is unfair of me to continue labeling him as a project. However, 14 games played in Chicago is a small sample size. Also, just because they are a top team doesn't mean TT is any better or worse for getting a chance now. Bollig played loads of minutes for that top team, and look how often he has been scratched here.

TT was hugely underwhelming coming over last year, and to start this year. He has since played better in the AHL, and seems 'fine' as skilled rookies go, but I am still keeping the project tag on him since I don't think he has really made the team, but is more of an injury replacement. If he continues doing well for the rest of the way until the end of the season, then I would no longer call him a project - or maybe I am just flat-out wrong and stubborn.

Point was, TT and Jankowski were both touted as having "1st line center" ceiling, and both were available at the Flames' first pick, but both of them needed more time than most of the prospects surrounding them in the rankings (thus the project label). Jankowski definitely was labeled as much more of a project. After Grigorenko went that year, only Teravainen and Jankowski were left as potential 1st line centers. It seems neither one ends up meeting their ceiling.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by RyZ

I'd love to see Janko move on from the Providence system and join Stockton next year. It will tell us a lot if he can/can't be effective in the AHL at his age.

I think there's a spot for him in Stockton, but it wouldn't hurt if he spent a Senior year with them. Maybe being a leader/captain would elevate his game.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

A lot of them, especially the defencemen haven't established themselves yet but I'd say Reinhart, Dumba, Pouliot are still looked on as fine picks. Many have already played NHL games. Weisbrod was going to trade our pick until he saw Jankowski because he thought it was a weak draft. In my opinion he was wrong. I'd have been happy with Girgensons, Ceci, Wilson, Hertl, Teravainen, Maatta, Subban to name a few.

How could he be wrong if you don't know what they were considering trading the pick for? Turris was an oft mentioned name and would've helped at centre quite a bit at the time.

It does look like a below average draft year overall. I'm still fine with the Jankowski pick and yes, it is still early early to write him off. I mean seriously people, he was a long term project when we picked him. He likely won't be NHL ready for another 3 years. Doesn't mean he won't turn into something useful.