How likely do you think Jankowski will make the team next year?

[Toonage]

The 2014 season took off partly because of the injection of youth into the lineup (albeit due to injuries at the start of the year). I'd much rather see players like this starting the year even if its only for 9 games.

[Red Menace]

I would define "making the team" as playing more games in the NHL than the AHL, by that measure I'd say it's very unlikely that he qualifies.
I voted 3.

[jlh2640]

As a center, pretty unlikely. Unless he or Bennett can play wing fulltime.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

As a center, pretty unlikely. Unless he or Bennett can play wing fulltime.

What about a Bennett - Janko - Stajan third line?

Rotate the center as need be

[jlh2640]

Originally Posted by DJones

What about a Bennett - Janko - Stajan third line?

Rotate the center as need be

If we make no major signings and no one we draft is ready to make the jump this could be a lineup we see.

Gaudreau Monahan Shinkaruk
Janko Bennett Colbourne
Bouma Backlund Frolik
Ferland Stajan Hathaway
Grant Jooris

But that is asking a lot out of Janko and Hunter.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

If we make no major signings and no one we draft is ready to make the jump this could be a lineup we see.

Gaudreau Monahan Shinkaruk
Janko Bennett Colbourne
Bouma Backlund Frolik
Ferland Stajan Hathaway
Grant Jooris

But that is asking a lot out of Janko and Hunter.

I agree with most of this, though I'd swap Bennett and Jankowski.

I also think that Ferland could inject some toughness onto that 3rd line.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Colborne has spent all year at wing, what are you talking about ? Just like the year before.

Colborne at center is an abandoned experiment outside of a few sporadic stints on the fourth line. He is for all intents and purposes a permanent winger.

Monahan is an exception as he was mature and already played a 1st line role very quickly.

Despite this, Hartley said in an interview two days ago that when Bennett played center, Hartley sheltered him much, much less than he sheltered Monahan in his entire rookie season, putting him in more defensive zone draws against top centers, instead of, as Hartley said himself, primarily offensive zone draws against 3rd and 4th lines for Monahan.

Hartley didn't significantly shelter Bennett at center, when he could have. This suggests to me the only reason Bennett played LW last year was because we were extremely thin at top 6 wing with the injury to Bouma and I reluctantly suppose, Colborne. Bennett was our third-best top 6 center and not getting enough minutes for his ability. Whereas Granlund was our fourth best center and getting minutes fair for his ability.

And I don't know if we've really done anything to fix the lack of top 6 winger depth, but we have added Shinkaruk who is a better candidate to be called up to play wing while Jankowski develops at center in the AHL. If Jankowski is called up I don't think he'll play much wing.

Longer term if Jankowski is as good as some of us feel he is (a top 6 forward) then there will have to be a decision made, I don't know if that will knock out Bennett, or even Monahan from the position because I can't predict the future but if we get to that point it means we've drafted, successfully, three top six centers in three straight years. That is when you're getting into contender status.

I should of said that with top end centerman prospects (with the exception of Monahan), it seems like that if we do have a new guy like Bennett, they tend to ease them in slower now as being a centerman as it is a lot of responsibility on a rookie.

Nope. Jankowski won't be eased into the wing. The difference between Bennett and Colborne is one is an awful center, the other a 19 year old. Bennett and Jankowski is one is a 19 year old out of a Junior, who wasn't AHL eligible and couldn't learn center in the AHL for that reason, while the other will be a 22 year old out of college, who has already learned many of the nuances of the center position at a great program, and further has picked up a few AHL games at the position to polish up other details.

That mixed with trying to get them quality playing time. If memory serves me right, I believe Backs spent a bit of time on the wing in his early years before graduating to a full time center as well.

The only wing Backlund has ever played was when he went over to Europe in the 2013 lockout. He's been a center for us since day one.

[Calgary4LIfe]

The argument was not if Colborne is a good center or not, but 'the Flames groom their centers on the wing' (which I think is a fallacy.

Colborne started off at center - remember it was him competing with Backlund that season? Sometime during that season, Colborne moved to a wing spot. The next season, Colborne was tried again at Center. Remember the 'timbits'?

Granlund was started at center.

Backlund was started at center (though a totally different regime, so may not qualify at all).

Monahan at center.

Jooris was started at center, but not for very long.

I believe the Flames have mostly been starting their guys at their respective positions as to how they were drafted, and then move them accordingly.

With that being said, Jankowski would be in-tough to start at center - barring injury. If he makes the team this year, it will be on the wing for a while. Hartley I am sure would play around and have him play center for shifts at a time, and if he does well, perhaps games at a time - but I would assume Jankowski would be started at least as a top 9 winger.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by cowtown75

Colborne has spent all year at wing, what are you talking about ? Just like the year before. Monahan is an exception as he was mature and already played a 1st line role very quickly. There has been a revolving door on the 3rd and 4th line with Stajan, Jooris yes- Granny too, but these guys are not top end talent. Grant took a few faceoffs too while here ( very good too and I hope we keep him).

Maybe I worded myself wrong here. I should of said that with top end centerman prospects (with the exception of Monahan), it seems like that if we do have a new guy like Bennett, they tend to ease them in slower now as being a centerman as it is a lot of responsibility on a rookie. That mixed with trying to get them quality playing time. If memory serves me right, I believe Backs spent a bit of time on the wing in his early years before graduating to a full time center as well.

In his rookie season Colbrone spent the majority at centre though, it wasn't until he was tried on the wing that he started to break out. The Flames have made a point to try and play prospects in their natural positions as rookies, Bennett has been the exception to the rule.

[Jay Random]

Even Bennett has only been a partial exception, since he played both C and LW in junior.

[spennywalks]

i think bennett's game is more suited for the wing at the NHL level. I would love to see him play with jankowski in the Middle and an established UFA brought in to play with them. That would allow us to keep Backlund with Colborne and Frolik together who showed chemistry towards the end of the season.

[Vulcan]

I maybe miss remembering but I thought Granlund played on the wing in his first call up. He did play on the wing in his first season in the liiga.

[morgin]

Any word on where he's training this summer and who with?

[T@T]

Originally Posted by morgin

Any word on where he's training this summer and who with?

I think he went back to Providence to train with his old mates and training staff, Flames may have pushed him into another direction though.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by T@T

I think he went back to Providence to train with his old mates and training staff, Flames may have pushed him into another direction though.

IIRC he was going to be doing some training in Calgary during the summer working directly with the Flames staff.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I think its unlikely he makes the team as a center. Even less likely he makes the team as a winger.

I dont think they will want to develop him in a 4th line role or out of position on the wing.
Also its way better for his growth if he plays top 6 mins in Stockton and gains confidence + learns how to play at that level.

It wont be easy to make the Flames this summer. Not as easy as it has been in the past 2-3 seasons that is for sure. I can see us adding a forward in free agency and really making it hard for any of the kids to stick asides from the 3 who have already made the jump. Maybe shinkaruk will stay around as well but thats it.

We should let these players over-ripen. I still have a lot of hope for Poirier and Klimchuk and they were both from the Monahan draft - which goes to show how long it can take some players to get accustomed and thrive as a professional as opposed to others. Jankowski needs to have one solid season in the AHL - it was always apart of the plan for him.

No way we see him at the start of the season imo.

[Alberta_Beef]

At this point in time the only way I see Jankowski making the team out of camp is if he is so impressive that the management team and coaching staff feel they need badly enough to push Bennett to the wing. I think this is very unlikely.

[Calgary4LIfe]

I think if he has a strong camp, they will try him out as a winger on Bennett's line. Will be tricky if Tkachuk makes the team as well, however.

Gaudreau - Monahan - X
X - Bennett - X
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Stajan - Bouma

Still have Bollig, Raymond, and Jooris as vets (well, sort of a vet with Jooris).

Tkachuk, Poirier, Shinkaruk, Agostino and Grant as possible 'impressive camp' possibilities. Klimchuk I think will need another year.

I think there is enough room for Jankowski to make it, especially if he can play RW. I expect the Flames to bounce a few guys through the top line - Ferland especially - with Poirier, Shinkaruk, Tkachuk and Jankowski perhaps rotating through to see if something clicks. RW spot open on Bennett's line as well - you can't keep putting non-skilled players with Bennett all year long again.

Will Jankowski make it? I think it is 50/50. The kid is roughly NHL-sized now, has NHL speed and is defensively responsible. I don't see why he can't have an impressive camp and get a prolonged look. I do think if he gets sent down, he will be getting a few looks throughout the season. I don't think he will push Bennett to the wing - not unless he looks really strong at center during the preseason. I think the Flames really want Bennett at center moving forward. Jankowski will get his shot at center when one of Monahan, Bennett or Backlund miss some time with an injury. Don't think they will place him at center with those 3 healthy.

I think at this point, it will really depend on if Jankowski has a really good camp relative to the other prospects, and how active the Flames are in the UFA market.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I think if he has a strong camp, they will try him out as a winger on Bennett's line. Will be tricky if Tkachuk makes the team as well, however.

Gaudreau - Monahan - X
X - Bennett - X
Colborne - Backlund - Frolik
Ferland - Stajan - Bouma

Still have Bollig, Raymond, and Jooris as vets (well, sort of a vet with Jooris).

Tkachuk, Poirier, Shinkaruk, Agostino and Grant as possible 'impressive camp' possibilities. Klimchuk I think will need another year.

I think there is enough room for Jankowski to make it, especially if he can play RW. I expect the Flames to bounce a few guys through the top line - Ferland especially - with Poirier, Shinkaruk, Tkachuk and Jankowski perhaps rotating through to see if something clicks. RW spot open on Bennett's line as well - you can't keep putting non-skilled players with Bennett all year long again.

Will Jankowski make it? I think it is 50/50. The kid is roughly NHL-sized now, has NHL speed and is defensively responsible. I don't see why he can't have an impressive camp and get a prolonged look. I do think if he gets sent down, he will be getting a few looks throughout the season. I don't think he will push Bennett to the wing - not unless he looks really strong at center during the preseason. I think the Flames really want Bennett at center moving forward. Jankowski will get his shot at center when one of Monahan, Bennett or Backlund miss some time with an injury. Don't think they will place him at center with those 3 healthy.

I think at this point, it will really depend on if Jankowski has a really good camp relative to the other prospects, and how active the Flames are in the UFA market.

Something was recently said about Stajan having a larger role IIRC. I have a feeling that means one of a few things, first possibility and most likely is Stajan being used as a winger, second would be Bennett going back to the wing and Stajan centering the third line or third and least likely (and completely out of left field) with the comments about playing the top forwards against other teams top lines Gulutzan could try Backlund on the wing with Gaudreau and Monahan and play Stajan as the third line center.

Gaudreau / Monahan / Backlund
Colborne / Bennett / Frolik
??? / Stajan / ???
Bouma / ??? / Ferland

Crazy I know

[Geeoff]

Isn't Jankowski really good at faceoffs? Makes no sense to play him at wing. Will probably play the season in the AHL