[News] With the 21st overall pick Flames select C Mark Jankowski

[kirant]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

So what's the deal here, is this kid not very good or do we just not know yet?

The concern is that the reward isn't considered by some to be worth the risk and the hassle.

Some wanted to draft Teravainen as soon as he was left at 14th (and should have just left the 2nd round empty) as they feel he's got the same potential as Jankowski, but is readier for the NHL and has less chance of bust (as Jankowski is extremely raw and is a long term prospect). This is pretty big as nobody felt we had a chance at what was projected by many to be a top 10 pick and have it land in our lap, just to be thrown out again. Lt.Spears is heavily in this camp as Teravainen was his personal desire for the Flames or something.

Some felt that Maata should have been drafted and wanted to reinforced the back end more than the centre. Those who wanted him probably felt really bad when he was passed up twice.

Some just don't like the risk and think home run swings should be for late picks.

Some just don't like Feaster I think and want an instant impact prospect or one that has a short incubation period instead of this 4 year ETA on Jankowski.

I'm more of the mind to sit back and wait. Feaster could come out looking like a genius or a fool...but the only way to find out will be to wait until Jankowski can be called a bust or hits the NHL. It's certainly a massive risk, but if they think they've got their man, I say let's find out. It'll be an interesting time though, as high rating long term prospects generally don't sit well with fans.

[Oliwa]

I very much enjoy this pick. And I look forward to see this kid destroy in which ever league he goes to next season. MUTHA EFFIN JANKOWSKI!!!!!!!!

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

I don't think anybody had an issue with the idea of trading down and taking Janikowski UNTIL Teravainen was still available. Having the guy ranked 7th overall, who was also young in his draft year and also was a huge riser made Janikowski a tough sell.

However the Flames drafted by the "list" and it sounds like Janikowski was number one on our list and I will trust our scouts who have seen the players in person on that one.

exactly. The scouts made the call.

fans can and will argue back and forth about it, as is their right to do so.

also, people should probably stop using Button's mock draft as a validation of the pick: he had Teuvo 5th, and we passed on him.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by flames_fan13

There's other reasons why teams didn't trade up to get him. Teams that wanted him may not have had the assets to complete the trade, or the teams ahead of the Flames wanted other players that were available and therefore not willing to deal their pick to the team interested in Jankowski

all teams have assets. Its a question of how much would they give up in order to jump the Flames? Flipping firsts + a second? Flipping firsts + a roster player?

Teams all have a price, but they also have a degree of risk management too. Is the kid worth it? Was the price higher than they wanted to pay?

when Calgary traded down, there was zero guarantee that Jankowski would be available. None. So they rolled the dice. And based on their board, they won big because they got the player they wanted + a second rounder.

but it could have just as easily gone sideways if another team interested in Jankowski jumped them.

[Drake]

“Weis thinks this guy, if he’s not the most talented guy coming out of this draft, he’s going to be one of them,” said Feaster.

“High expectations. This is a player that we had targeted.”

Added Jankowski: “I really want to prove them right. That’s what I’m here to do. I think in 10 years I can be the best player in this draft.”

“I can tell you I was in a bad mood — I was driving two and a half hours through snow,” said Weisbrod. “But by the middle of the second period, I was laughing out loud by myself in my seat.

He’s a long way away, he’s raw, he’s young, he’s still got to cross the crocodile-infested waters and develop properly — like, it’s a long way from draft day to play in the NHL — but the physical attributes this guy has. The athleticism. The skating. The hands. The fact that he’ll likely be playing at six-four, 215. I’ve said it to our scouts all week long — he’s Joe Nieuwendyk.”

“It’s not the same as playing in the OHL — but in his OHL draft year, he was five-nine,” said Feaster. “But I give our guys credit — they look past what the level of competition is and say, ‘What’s the skill level?’ Our guys are pretty confident that that skill is going to translate into the next level and ultimately make him an NHLer.

“He’s a guy that’s still developing. This isn’t the pick last year at No. 13 where Sven Baertschi plays five games for us this year — and we expect him to make our team out of training camp next season. (Jankowski) is a guy, there’s going to be development time.”

“We knew he was playing in a league where a lot of people would undervalue him,” said Weisbrod. “He was playing against weaker competition. He was playing in obscure places. We knew that would help downgrade him in some team’s minds.

“If you want to let a guy lay in the weeds, that was a good place to do it.”

“I don’t want to share anyone’s business,” said Weisbrod, “but I know he wouldn’t have made it through (the first round).

“I know at least two teams that would have taken him.

“We knew we had to take him (Friday) — it was just a matter of where.”

http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...194/story.html

[Roof-Daddy]

I'm glad he's going to Dubuque.

Seems like a good place for young players to play.

Funny, never even knew Dubuque existed until we drafted Gaudreau last year, and now there's Girgensons and Matheson going n round 1 this year.

Gaudreau put up 1.20 points per game as a 17 year old with Dubuque....and Girgensons put up 1.12 points pergame as a 17/18 year old with Dubuque.

Jankowski will play there as an 18 year old, will be nice to see how he stacks up.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I'm glad he's going to Dubuque.

Seems like a good place for young players to play.

Funny, never even knew Dubuque existed until we drafted Gaudreau last year, and now there's Girgensons and Matheson going n round 1 this year.

Gaudreau put up 1.20 points per game as a 17 year old with Dubuque....and Girgensons put up 1.12 points pergame as a 17/18 year old with Dubuque.

Jankowski will play there as an 18 year old, will be nice to see how he stacks up.

definitely would be an reasonably fair comparison to other know quantities... esp Gaudreau...

Again, I am not a fan of the pick, as it seemed like Tuevo was there for the taking. That said, now that he's a Flame, people will have to show some patience with him. Seeing how he does in Dubuque and then Providence will definitely provide more data against more evenly matched competition.

[VladtheImpaler]

There were 12 of us that wanted this pick. Spears turned out to be Judas.

[SHOGUN]

Apparently some people here know more than the people who scout amateur players for a living.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Apparently some people here know more than the people who scout amateur players for a living.

It's important to note that criticism of the pick is sometimes actually criticism of the philosophy behind the pick, rather than the specific player selected.

And the amateur scouts do screw up quite regularly.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Apparently some people here know more than the people who scout amateur players for a living.

awesome! cracking out ad hominem attacks! how dare fans discuss/dissect/criticize/laud draft picks!

i guess we should just all shut up, pay for our tickets, watch games and leave the "really complex hockey stuff" to the organization right?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

Apparently some people here know more than the people who scout amateur players for a living.

ugh

[Red John]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

awesome! cracking out ad hominem attacks! how dare fans discuss/dissect/criticize/laud draft picks!

i guess we should just all shut up, pay for our tickets, watch games and leave the "really complex hockey stuff" to the organization right?

Actually in terms of drafting, yes.

It's one thing to criticize the team on the ice, because it's based on your own eyes and observations.

But outside of the top few picks, most fans have never watched any of these prospects play. Basing an opinion on The Hockey News isn't exactly called being informed.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

This.
We need immediate help. Isn't this the kind of pick a top 5 team gambles on?

You don't draft to fill immediate holes. You draft to take the best player down the road, in 4-5 years.

[Cheerio]

Question, I heard somewhere that since he is playing a year in the USHL after being drafted before going to the NCAA that he could potentially pull a Blake Wheeler and leave us with nothing. Is that true?

[Sylvanfan]

Well he is an intriguing player. Brian Boyle was a huge high school kid in his draft year, although I don't believe he was considered highly skilled. It did take a few years, but Boyle has become a bonafide NHL player, although not as a top 6 forward. With a player this age those three days really can be a factor. Benoit Poulliot was a tall guy who was a great skater just on the other side of the Sept 15 deadline. That extra year probably allowed him to be a top 5 pick. Again a guy with a less than stellar career, but he is a NHL player and survives as a 3-4 th line guy.

So even if the upside doesn't pan out, he can still be a serviceable player. But who knows...Corey Perry was drafted 28th and offered up for Mike Comrie. He's the only guy from the 03 draft with a Hart Trophy.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

You don't draft to fill immediate holes. You draft to take the best player down the road, in 4-5 years.

True.

I'll admit that the only reason why I was on the Zemgus bus was because outisde of the top 2 picks, he is being touted as "close to NHL ready". It would be nice to throw patience out the window, but it really is an unrealistic goal to have.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Red John

Actually in terms of drafting, yes.

It's one thing to criticize the team on the ice, because it's based on your own eyes and observations.

But outside of the top few picks, most fans have never watched any of these prospects play. Basing an opinion on The Hockey News isn't exactly called being informed.

fans criticize everything from contracts to trades, ice time to line combination, positional play to even effort.

simply because you see something with your own eyes doesn't mean you understand the nuances behind the decisions being made. Simply being able to observe something doesn't make anyone an expert. Especially if the metric being used to qualify it is "leave it to the professionals".

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

How many times in the first round has an NHL GM stood up athe podium and said "From xyz High School, .... are proud to select..."???!!!

Several times for sure. Usually from Minnesota HS.

[HighLifeMan]

I asked this on HF (I know, I know...) but I would like some other opinion's.

Let me ask this;

Mark Jankowski was born 09/13/94
Zemgus Girgensons was born 01/05/94

Since he is over nine months younger than Girgensons could you not realistically compare the numbers he will put up next season in Dubuque to the numbers that Zemgus finished this season with for the exact same program? And what if he puts up similar numbers, or even better numbers? would that not justify this selection without even knowing what the 42nd pick will amount too?

If Girgensons is not considered at reach at 14 now, I don't think Jankowski should be either if he thrives in Dubuque next season.

(Not sure if I explained that properly)
What I am really trying to say is that his age is one of the largest factors in why I am so excited about this pick, and why I don't view it as such a stretch after some reflection.