Who is More Likely to Make the Team Opening Day?

[DJones]

I think Tkachuk gets 9 games and is sent down. Jankowski starts in the AHL but plays 40 games in each.

So whatever that means to the question.

Think he will play at wing first.

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Jankowski by a hair.

I think they both make it.

A back hair, or a , front hair?


I think Tkachuk is more likely to start with the club (no guarantees obviously), but a The Big Jankowski almost certainly plays far more games with the big club this season.

[Red Menace]

I'd be surprised if Jankowski started with the club and also doubt he will get into double digits in GP with the big club this year.
Tkachuk will likely get his 9 games and be sent down.

[Strange Brew]

So compared to the team that came out of camp last year, the following evts are gone:

Hudler, Jones, Raymond, Colborne, Jooris

Brouwer is the only guaranteed spot to a new guy this year. Chiasson is almost guaranteed given he signed a one way.

That is kind of exciting. Certainly provides Tkachuk with areal opportunity but for a guy like Poirier, he might never have a better chance of making the team.

[GranteedEV]

When I think of what I want out of Mark Jankowski, I think of finely tuned play at centre, using his skating and reach to weave through neutral ice, his vision and passing and wrister to spark scoring chances, and his lower body strength and hands to park himself in front of the net as a screen. I don't think that's going to happen on the fourth line babysitting Brandon Bollig. I also think Sean Monahan and Sam Bennett require the same development, and Backlund is necessary to keep every gear moving like clockwork. Moving Jankowski to wing would be actively slowing his development. He needs to play centre, even if it's as 1C in Stockton until there is an injury. Even two months of playing centre against pros will be good for him. He still needs to improve on draws, he still needs to learn to play with skilled forwards like Eatbread and Pribyl (remember he was dragging around Mingoia in college and Elson/Hathaway in his first AHL stint). I want him to apply his skill the best he can and dominate the AHL in all facets - PP, 5V5, PK, so he doesn't get conveniently buried on the NHL squad in a permanent depth role. I also think he can help improve the AHL team in the standings as an aside.

When I think of what I want out of Tkachuk as a rookie, I really just think of a competent Jiri Hudler or Joe Colborne replacement. That's two 40-50+ point forwards we have subtracted, and our forwards need someone to play with. Additionally Tkatchuk cannot be sent to the AHL, and if we send him down to the OHL he may not even make it in time for playoffs with London being perennially stacked.

If I had to pick one, I would pick Tkachuk. My preference though? Chiasson revisiting his form from his Dallas days and being that Colborne replacement, A guy like Poirier breaking out and making the team out of camp, and Tkachuk going down to London for a good developmental year.

[Vulcan]

From what I've seen and been reading Tkachuk has the drive to make the team. He seems like another Bennett in that way so I give him a good chance if he has a good summer.

Jankowski could surprise but I think he's pencilled in for Stockton and don't see that being changed.

[topfiverecords]

Neither. Hathaway.

[GreenLantern2814]

Tkachuk because he also fills a positional role. According to the Flames website, the natural LWs on this team are Johnny, Ferland and Bollig.

Brouwer is here to play on the top line. Backlund and Frolik are their own thing, and Sam Bennett is all on his own. Gulutzan doesn't seem like Therrien; he's going to play Bennett at Centre, and Bennett needs to play with someone better than Micheal Ferland.

Jankowski, meanwhile, has also been a centre his entire career. If the only way to fit him on an NHL roster is to bump him to the wing, pass.

There's a logjam of NHL C's, and there's no need to rush him. I think Janko will show he's good enough to make the team out of camp, but barring injury he starts in Stockton. I do think he finishes the year as a regular.

[SeanCharles]

All this Jankowski talk solidifies it for me that Feaster started a new culture here and he let his staff do its work while giving it the required resources to succeed. It's carried over into the new regime and its changed the organization's fortunes.

For all his faults I've always appreciated Feasters impact on the franchise.

[MrMastodonFarm]

The wing positions on this team are wide open IMO. If Bollig, Ferland, Bouma etc can't cut it and are beaten out by Shinkaruk, Jankowski, Tkachuk, Hathaway, Poirier, or Pribly then I hope the best of them earn those spots.

[dammage79]

1. Shinkaruk barring a performance implosion.
2. Hathaway. I preferred his play over Ferland and Bouma last season. The job those guys were supposed to be doing was done better by Hathaway. And he round out the RW positions nicely.
3. Kylington. I have a hunch he is going to blow the doors off of camp. May not play the whole season but he will be on the opening day ice.

Edit: I'm coin flipping on Tkachuk. Not sure how he will fare. I see him being sent back after two or three regular season games. Might be a long sighted contract thing that does it, keep the elcs staggered.


Super dark horse? Eetu Tuulola. He's going to have an impact inain camp I'm 100℅ sure of it. Does it get him a spot on the NHL roster or does he just earn an AHL spot over being sent to Everett.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Kylington? Nowhere near NHL ready.
Tuulola? Nowhere near NHL ready

Shinkaruk has a chance but I think Tkachuk probably has a higher chance.

Hathaway is probably the best bet of all the players you mentioned.

[polak]

I think people are forgetting how unlikely it is for OHL players to get their 9 games and be sent down... If Tkachuk gets his 9 games, he's probably staying.

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Hugh Jahrmes

A back hair, or a , front hair?


I think Tkachuk is more likely to start with the club (no guarantees obviously), but a The Big Jankowski almost certainly plays far more games with the big club this season.

Only one type of hair on CP and they're edible on the right bet.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Kylington? Nowhere near NHL ready.
Tuulola? Nowhere near NHL ready

Shinkaruk has a chance but I think Tkachuk probably has a higher chance.

Hathaway is probably the best bet of all the players you mentioned.

I'd be really surprised if Hathaway doesn't make the team.

I get Tkachuk is all the rage right now but he hasn't earned a thing yet. I have Shinkaruk ahead of him simply because he put in his development time and was a positive impact on the main roster during his time with the Flames. Nothing is a guarantee as this thread is about guesses and predictions.

As for Tuulola and Kylington, I guess not everyone likes to predict pleasant surprises. Kylington can easily make the roster with a solid camp. Tuulola was a man among boys in the Dev. Camp, many can attest to this. I made mention of him and I thought I was quite clear in my post that he will have a big impact at main camp but could only lead to AHL time in lieu of being sent to Everett. Or he could make the team. I didn't think "Super Dark Horse" was going to be taken so seriously.

[MacFlame]

Ferland was the most disappointing for me last year. He showed glimpses of what he could do, but just wasn't consistent at all. He needs to play on the edge. If he's not doing that, he simply doesn't have the skill to play in the top 9.

There's something there...he's shown it. Frustrating player to watch at times. If he doesn't play well out of camp, I wouldn't be surprised if someone takes his spot.

[polak]

I'll be surprised if Ferland has a spot. He struggled a lot last year and really doesn't contribute anything.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by polak

...Ferland ... really doesn't contribute anything.

Well, other than:

-being fourth among this team`s forwards in 5vs5 assists per 60 (third now that Colborne's gone) -- a higher assist rate than Frolik and Monahan.

-being seventh among this team`s forwards the team (including Colborne) in 5 vs 5 points per 60

- being fifth among this team`s forwards in 5 vs 5 relative shots for percentage

- being fourth among this team`s forwards in 5 vs 5 relative unblocked shot attempts for percentage

- leading the team in hits by a country mile

- being fourth among this team`s forwards in takeaways

- being third on the team in zone entry rate (and fourth in carry-in rate)

[David Struch]

Gaudreau - Jankowski - Brouwer
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Bennett - Monahan - Shinkaruk/Poirier/Priby

[oldschoolcalgary]

Tkachuk.

kid is is mature beyond his years and i think he will be ready for the main camp... i think that he can be a major help on the PP as well.