Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Why? A scoring pace of 0.5 ppg is promising for freshman facing vastly superior competition compared to last year. It's also a pretty widely accepted opinion that he needs to add a little meat to his frame.

That can be said of every true freshman to be honest.

[MissTeeks]

In case anyone wanted a weight update on Jankowski:

Jon Gillies ‏@JGillies32
@shoshlundeen19 @Janko61: 6'3'', 165 lbs, some say the best pick of the 2012 draft, others are saying a bust, but he's a lock on your team

Mark Jankowski ‏@Janko61
@JGillies32 @shoshlundeen19 168.5*

Jon Gillies ‏@JGillies32
@Janko61 @shoshlundeen19 really?! congrats man, you're gaining weight like crazy

And yes, it appears Gillies was nominating him to the Men's Hockey East All-Handsome Team 2012-2013, what ever the hell that is!

[Ashasx]

Boy is he light.

[Ezio]

Can someone tell me Jankowski's lack of production thus far in college? Other guys like Jujhar Khaira, Nic Kerdiles, Teo Bluegers and Cristoval Nieves have similar/better production and have similar frame buildups, but neither are considered can't miss blue chippers. (Serious question here, don't know much about Jankowski)

[Mitch]

Originally Posted by Ezio

Can someone tell me Jankowski's lack of production thus far in college? Other guys like Jujhar Khaira, Nic Kerdiles, Teo Bluegers and Cristoval Nieves have similar/better production and have similar frame buildups, but neither are considered can't miss blue chippers.

The team is overall very weak offensively in a very good conference in Hockey East and relies heavily on Gillies getting them wins. Jankowski is also going through a big transition between highschool hockey and NCAA hockey, lets not forget that originally he was supposed to play in the USHL for a year before heading to the NCAA. And I would also say he really hasn't been getting the bounces going his way. He seems to generate quite a few shots every game consistently but just hasn't been hitting the back of the net as much as he could.

Overall generally from people that have watched him, they have said that he has progressed well. When Jankowski was injured Weisbrod highlighted how he had progressed thus far and he seemed very pleased from what he has heard, although he did say he hadn't watched him himself. Just taking words from what the scouts and coach had said. Leaman, Jankowski's coach was also interviewed and had very high praise for him. Most people have said his physical and defensive game needs to improve, and it has gradually every game.

[Canada 02]

who considers Jankowski a can't miss blue chipper?

a lot of things can factor into a players production. Teammates, coaching, quality of opposition, age/development (a couple of the players you named are 19 year old players), injuries

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Ezio

Can someone tell me Jankowski's lack of production thus far in college? Other guys like Jujhar Khaira, Nic Kerdiles, Teo Bluegers and Cristoval Nieves have similar/better production and have similar frame buildups, but neither are considered can't miss blue chippers. (Serious question here, don't know much about Jankowski)

Who had ever labeled Jankowski as a blue chip can't miss guy???

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by Mitch

The team is overall very weak offensively in a very good conference in Hockey East and relies heavily on Gillies getting them wins. Jankowski is also going through a big transition between highschool hockey and NCAA hockey, lets not forget that originally he was supposed to play in the USHL for a year before heading to the NCAA. And I would also say he really hasn't been getting the bounces going his way. He seems to generate quite a few shots every game consistently but just hasn't been hitting the back of the net as much as he could.

Overall generally from people that have watched him, they have said that he has progressed well. When Jankowski was injured Weisbrod highlighted how he had progressed thus far and he seemed very pleased from what he has heard, although he did say he hadn't watched him himself. Just taking words from what the scouts and coach had said. Leaman, Jankowski's coach was also interviewed and had very high praise for him. Most people have said his physical and defensive game needs to improve, and it has gradually every game.

Thanks for this informative post! You are correct that the transition from high school hockey to the college ranks is a big transition. And points obviously don't always tell the story.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Who had ever labeled Jankowski as a blue chip can't miss guy???

A couple of buddies and some bits and pieces from Flames management (Weisbrod):

I fully believe that they think he will be the best. He seemed completely sincere. They even had a story all ready of Assistant GM John Weisbrod driving through a blizzard just to see him play. It was Weisbrod who apparently told Feaster, ”I’ve just seen the guy who’s going to be – 10 years from now – he’s going to be talked about as the best player in this draft.” A bit later on, Weisbrod himself said, “He’s Joe Nieuwendyk.”

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2012/0...he-2012-draft/

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Ezio

A couple of buddies and some bits and pieces from Flames management (Weisbrod):

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2012/0...he-2012-draft/

Okay, a couple buddies doesn't count. That Weisbrod quote is pretty standard stuff for any guy picked out of the top ten. You have a lot of GM's saying stuff like that every year.

That quote is hardly saying blue chip can't miss, it's a Flames official being excited about their latest pick. Pretty standard stuff.

[Roof-Daddy]

"A couple of buddies"

lol

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by Ezio

Can someone tell me Jankowski's lack of production thus far in college? Other guys like Jujhar Khaira, Nic Kerdiles, Teo Bluegers and Cristoval Nieves have similar/better production and have similar frame buildups, but neither are considered can't miss blue chippers. (Serious question here, don't know much about Jankowski)

He is getting some decent points (hovering around .5 ppg or so - last time I checked anyways). Not bad numbers for a freshman.

As to why he isn't getting more, I believe the reason is two-fold. As a poster has already described, he went from high school hockey with basically very little system work at all, to NCAA hockey. Big transition there.

The other thing that happened to him was his huge growth spurt. He grew 5?6?7? inches in about a year and a half. He is still sort of getting used to his body, and his skating is still decent.

He was considered a fairly 'long-term' project - might take him 2 years, but it might take him all 4 years of college to turn pro, depending on how he is putting weight on.

With that being said, I believe many scouts were ranking him as a 1st line center talent - just a higher risk. He will definitely get better as the years pass, but how good he will become will stay a mystery until then.

I still like this pick - a POTENTIAL 6'4" center with 'elite' passing and hockey sense is a gamble this organization needed to take. There is no telling how good he will be, but there is also a chance he may not end up being an NHL'er even (though with his size, I doubt that would be the case unless something goes wrong).

I like to follow Jankowski. I have only been able to see one of his games (online streamed), but hopefully will get to watch him more. I think he is just one of those really interesting picks to follow. When it comes to this guy and Gaudreau, I just try and keep patient. Higher risk, higher reward type of picks that can drastically alter the course of a franchise IF they turn out.

I think Jankowski is the highest ceiling prospect the Flames have (no contest in terms of potential impact if you factor in his size and position) - no idea on how close he comes to reaching it.

[Dienasty]

Hey when you are drafting mid to late first round sometime you have to take risks. Lets not forget he was the youngest player in last years draft. He was about a week away from being ineligible last year. Curious as to where he would go this year. Probably mid first.

[Cole436]

Originally Posted by Dienasty

Hey when you are drafting mid to late first round sometime you have to take risks. Lets not forget he was the youngest player in last years draft. He was about a week away from being ineligible last year. Curious as to where he would go this year. Probably mid first.

If he was playing in the USHL, he would probably be mid first round pick, but if he was being looked at production wise from the NCAA, I'd think he'd be around the same spot, maybe even lower.

[Matty81]

I think Kobasew got drafted directly out of the NCAA (14th overall) after this season:

2000-01 Boston College H-East 43 27 22 49


Jankowski is way bigger and a premium position but probably would be held in the same regard as last year by most teams, profiling as a mid 2nd rounder with high risk/reward profile that a team might go a bit off the board for.

He's looked OK - hasn't broken out but hasn't really been expected to at 18, next year will be more telling.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Matty81

I think Kobasew got drafted directly out of the NCAA (14th overall) after this season:

2000-01 Boston College H-East 43 27 22 49


Jankowski is way bigger and a premium position but probably would be held in the same regard as last year by most teams, profiling as a mid 2nd rounder with high risk/reward profile that a team might go a bit off the board for.

He's looked OK - hasn't broken out but hasn't really been expected to at 18, next year will be more telling.

He's the 3rd youngest player in NCAA and went directly from high school hockey to a league playing routinely against players 2-4 years his senior. I'd say 0.5 ppg is very good given his situation. He's added a decent amount of muscle mass in just 8 months since the draft and once he gets to a weight around 180-190, in addition to more confidence this kid could be what Jay and John envisioned. Should also mention he's putting up 1/2 ppg on a poor offensive team. I think the last 2 drafts have given us a very solid group of players who will be paramount in rebuilding the team, specifically the American contingent. I think Jay and John were smart in scouting and drafting from areas routinely overlooked with respect to the CHL and Europe. Gaudreau has been phenomenal, Gillies is putting up great numbers as a freshman goaltender, Seiloff could be a gem as a hard hitting stay at home Dman in addition to Baertschi, Granlund, Broissoit, the future looks pretty darn good.

[flylock shox]

Wait. He's 6'3" and under 170 lbs?

Is that even healthy?

Does he need money? Should we send him some money?

Is he sick or something?

Who's in charge of looking after our baby now he's in college?

We should start up a fried chicken fund for the boy. Get him some of them corn fritters too.

[nik-]

I wouldn't say he's put on a lot of weight. He's listed at the draft at 170 and is now listed at 175. 5 pounds is alright, but not when you need to gain 25- 30.

[indes]

5 pounds may not sound like much but remember your 17yr old metabolism? Try to outpace it I did, but with no avail. Sure wish it was still like that, I could put on 5 pounds in a week nowadays haha

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by indes

5 pounds may not sound like much but remember your 17yr old metabolism? Try to outpace it I did, but with no avail. Sure wish it was still like that, I could put on 5 pounds in a week nowadays haha

True, when I was 17 I could probably eat the calorie equivalent of 6 meals a day + snacks and not gain a single pound of bad weight and that didn't change until I was about 21... I shudder to think what it would have taken to put on 5 pounds of good weight at that age.

His adult body will put on weight... he just needs to establish good strength training habits and eventually his body will age into the weight.