Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[getbak]

A good article from the Providence newspaper about Jankowski's growth over his college career: http://www.providencejournal.com/art...51029717/13933

The 6-foot-3 centerman, who has always had very soft hands, is bigger and stronger. With increased muscle has come a more powerful skating stride.

“That’s the big thing -- his strength,’’ says Leaman. “He came in as a weak freshman at 170 (pounds). The next year he played at 180, then 190, and this year he’s playing at 200, 205. That’s the difference.

“He’s always had the game, but he didn’t have the strength to get to the right areas on the ice. He didn’t have the strength to hold onto pucks, to win his battles, to win his faceoffs. I think he can dominate in the traffic areas, where in the past he was getting pushed to the outside. The vision and the skill have always been there.’’

Jankowski can feel the difference. “It’s a huge change from freshman year to now. Now I can use my body to protect pucks and get to the net-front and win battles there for rebounds and second chances. It’s been a real help,’’ he said.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by getbak

A good article from the Providence newspaper about Jankowski's growth over his college career: http://www.providencejournal.com/art...51029717/13933

I heard he broke the 200 lb level but that he's willing to use his new strength is good news. When I've watched him before, he didn't seem to win any puck battles although he played his position fine. At the finals he looked like another player and I think he gained a lot of confidence.

[GreenLantern2814]

This kid is going to be such a stud.

[driveway]

Providence Friars rise to #2 in the Nation, are unbeaten so far this season.

http://www.abc6.com/story/30414324/p...-in-the-nation

Jankowski has 3g 7a 10 points in 7 games this season and is tied for 8th in the country for points.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Originally Posted by driveway

Providence Friars rise to #2 in the Nation, are unbeaten so far this season.

http://www.abc6.com/story/30414324/p...-in-the-nation

Jankowski has 3g 7a 10 points in 7 games this season and is tied for 8th in the country for points.

Great news for the Flames.

Side note - does it bug anyone else when the NCAA makes misleading exaggerations of success by saying things like "best team in the nation" when they really mean "best team in the league"? Or the NFL... sure, if you win the superbowl I'll concede that you're likely the best team in the world, but it feels insincere to brag about being "world champions" when only teams within your country competed.

They both produce products that I enjoy watching, but I find those statements make whoever says them tough to take seriously.

Anyways, way to go Janko

[Matata]

most competitive league in the world + international player base = world champions.

[sureLoss]

Context development charts.

Again, not meant to suggest Jankowski is or will be better or worse than these guys. Just providing some context.

[GranteedEV]

Not sure Hayes is a useful context. Dude played with Johnny Hockey!

...Wait, so did Kreider.

...

Jankowski is destined to play with Johnny Hockey in the NHL.


...or be a New York Ranger.

[Caged Great]

If Janko turns into that calibre of player, he will be one of the top players from his draft year.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Providence won 3-0 tonight, Janko had the game winning goal and an assist.

[GGG]

Im glad that we can now start will he sign panic as opposed to is he a bust panic.

Great start to this season.

[thymebalm]

Originally Posted by GGG

Im glad that we can now start will he sign panic as opposed to is he a bust panic.

Great start to this season.

Ha!

We are a predictable bunch aren't we!

[driveway]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

If Janko turns into that calibre of player, he will be one of the top players from his draft year.

That draft is pretty terrible.

If Jankowski turns into a consistent 20g 25a 2/3rd line centre he'll be one of the three or four best forwards from that draft.

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl2012e.html

Galchenyuk is currently the best point-producer from that draft and he's a .54 ppg so far and averaging 17 goals a season.

Edit: Wow, that draft is terrrrriibbbllleee. If the top end of that draft class continues to produce at their current rate, the career comparable for the best forwards in the draft is Curtis Glencross. Over his career, Glencross maintained a .54 ppg pace and averaged 21 goals a season.

A reminder, Glencross was an undrafted player whose career highs were 26 goals, 27 assists, and 48 points. He also never played a full 82 games.

Now, that draft class is just entering their 22-year old season, right at the beginning of their peak years, so we should see an uptick in the scoring rates, but wow that's bad.

[GranteedEV]

Calling it:

Forsberg >= Jankowski > Any other forward in the 2012 Draft

[chubeyr1]

I hope Janko doesn't read this forum!I would never sign with a team with a fan base that has treated him so bad.Not saying he earned to be treated as a superstar, but he was labeled a project from day one and people bashed him so hard. Now he looks good really good.Honestly I think he will be a bust. Yet I am not so sure we will ever get a chance to see him in Calgary. Unsigned!He is a late bloomer, and when he was drafted that is exactly what was expected. Those skills in a big package has to turn out. Today he is playing that way, don't get me wrong, I am impressed but he has done nothing in the nhl. That's another level.I see him as a more skilled Colborne. He will struggle in the NHL at first for a few years then start using his size. Honestly this year Colborne has been amazing. He has no vision, or lacks hockey IQ, but so far this year he has learned he is a big player and hard to take off the puck. He tires out a defense. Do I love him? No, but he is effective, and that word effective has never been associated with him in the nhl.If Janko can learn to use his body, and add some skill above Joe he could be a really effective player for us. If he can win faceoffs, he could be a force for us!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by chubeyr1

I hope Janko doesn't read this forum!I would never sign with a team with a fan base that has treated him so bad.Not saying he earned to be treated as a superstar, but he was labeled a project from day one and people bashed him so hard. Now he looks good really good.Honestly I think he will be a bust. Yet I am not so sure we will ever get a chance to see him in Calgary. Unsigned!He is a late bloomer, and when he was drafted that is exactly what was expected. Those skills in a big package has to turn out. Today he is playing that way, don't get me wrong, I am impressed but he has done nothing in the nhl. That's another level.I see him as a more skilled Colborne. He will struggle in the NHL at first for a few years then start using his size. Honestly this year Colborne has been amazing. He has no vision, or lacks hockey IQ, but so far this year he has learned he is a big player and hard to take off the puck. He tires out a defense. Do I love him? No, but he is effective, and that word effective has never been associated with him in the nhl.If Janko can learn to use his body, and add some skill above Joe he could be a really effective player for us. If he can win faceoffs, he could be a force for us!

As for people bashing him, they're talking about him in a hockey-related way, it's not like we're getting personal about it.

Personally, I like him and think he will be a player. Glad to see him off to a great start.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Pretty weak draft overall, but the D is decent. To be fair, Feaster/Weisbrod said as much at the draft, hence the trade down. If Sieloff doesn't get hurt/infected, it would have been a decent draft for the flames, relatively speaking.

[sureLoss]

Thank goodness they didn't draft Matt Finn. That guy is in bust territory. He isn't going to get a shot with Islanders before his contract is up.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Fighting Banana Slug

Pretty weak draft overall, but the D is decent. To be fair, Feaster/Weisbrod said as much at the draft, hence the trade down. If Sieloff doesn't get hurt/infected, it would have been a decent draft for the flames, relatively speaking.

Sieloff outside a few defensive lapses looks much better this season. He's playing physical and standing up for his teammates. He is also showing alot more confidence offensively.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Sieloff outside a few defensive lapses looks much better this season. He's playing physical and standing up for his teammates. He is also showing alot more confidence offensively.

He looked really good in preseason.