Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Well we have a problem. I'm a Flames fan so why would I wish him to fail. The only reason in your little mind is to win an argument and to tell the truth I don't like these arguments because they devolve with people like you calling others liars etc.

If he had of said style wise as a comparable, that would have been fine but he didn't.

Honestly think you'd rather be right then have him succeed. You're not the first person to be in this situation.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

My understanding is that prospect comparisons, in general, are meant to be style comparisons. Not meant to say he will be the next Nieuwendyk literally. just elements of his game remind of how Nieuwendyk played the game.

I guess this is why people hate to make prospect comparable, because when they make them and the prospect doesn't live up to the expectations, critics come back and say they were dead wrong.

Yeah, I hate them in general. No two people are exactly alike, no two players are exactly the same. I've seen posters here attack comparisons for the tiniest of differences. Try to stay away from them.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Honestly think you'd rather be right then have him succeed. You're not the first person to be in this situation.

When it comes to Jankowski and a few other prospects which have been brought up on this page, fans think it's a done deal. It isn't and I like to see what happens rather than writing them into the lineup. It's your twisted mind that likes to change the argument.

As said you remember Howse.

Yeah, this board was all over his stick for a while. Same with guys like Boyd, Trubachev, Tarathukin and countless others. Fans overrate their own prospects, especially when the cupboards are bare.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

As said you remember Howse.

That quote certainly wasn't from me, nor anything else about Ryan Howse.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

That quote certainly wasn't from me, nor anything else about Ryan Howse.

I never said it was. It's an example of fans over rating prospects or rather putting the cart before the horse.

[Trailer Fire]

Ok Vulcan. You are right. Are you happy now? Can you leave us to discuss the player without your dissenting and overbearing opinion?

[The Fonz]

I had a look at that 2012 draft again, and my god was it ever bad for forwards. The only foward drafted after Jankowski that I would consider taking over him would be Tanner Pearson, and even then I'm not sure, considering Pearson is a full 2 years older.

Lots of quality Dmen that year though.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I had a look at that 2012 draft again, and my god was it ever bad for forwards. The only foward drafted after Jankowski that I would consider taking over him would be Tanner Pearson, and even then I'm not sure, considering Pearson is a full 2 years older.

Lots of quality Dmen that year though.

That draft was all defensemen and goalies, plus Forsberg and Jankowski.

[dammage79]

Originally Posted by The Fonz

I had a look at that 2012 draft again, and my god was it ever bad for forwards. The only foward drafted after Jankowski that I would consider taking over him would be Tanner Pearson, and even then I'm not sure, considering Pearson is a full 2 years older.

Lots of quality Dmen that year though.

If I recall, the CP poll had us wanting the Flames to take Sebastian Collberg. He hasn't really taken off since his draft year. 18 points in 43 gp in the AHL last season, and a pretty woeful 9 points in 29 gp this season.

Jankowski looks to be the safe pick at 21.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by icecube

Yeah, this board was all over his stick for a while. Same with guys like Boyd, Trubachev, Tarathukin and countless others. Fans overrate their own prospects, especially when the cupboards are bare.

Of course they do.

That doesn't mean one can't be a steal.

'Hey, remember this prospect that didn't work out? That's proof that talking about any other prospect is folly!'

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Of course they do.

That doesn't mean one can't be a steal.

'Hey, remember this prospect that didn't work out? That's proof that talking about any other prospect is folly!'

No it's proof that you shouldn't call someone a steal until they actually are one. You aren't a steal playing well in the AHL.

[bubbsy]

Just got his 100th point tonight.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

You have failed to back up your assertion that he was "being overvalued and selected too high from the start". There doesn't exist any evidence as far as I'm aware that he was "selected too high" so you're making that part up. That is what GranteedEV is saying, what is the basis for you saying he was selected too high? If it is just because of some rankings, that is neither here nor there. The Flames had him ranked top 15 obviously and those are the only rankings that matter when we're picking. The whole idea of fan saying that a team is taking a kid too high is strange, too high based on who? Every team has a very different list and sticks with it. You can evaluate the draft later in hindsight to say who was selected too high but Jankowski hasn't even started his pro career yet so its extremely premature to judge his draft class. Usually takes about 7 years to accurately be able to say with certainty that anybody was selected too high. If you're talking about saying someone was selected too high immediately after the draft happened then you don't really know what you're talking about do you? Unless you've scouted all the players in question you can't have an informed opinion about it at that point. You can say ISS thinks he was taken too high, or CSS thinks he was taken too high, or Bob Mackenzie thinks he was taken too high and that's about all you can say.

Basically what you're saying is that you don't like the pick for whatever reason. But you're insinuating the Flames completely botched it, "took him too high", but he may yet turn out to be one of the top 20 players from the draft, we don't know yet! If he's one of the top 20 players from the draft in 4 years then he obviously wasn't selected too high was he? Thus GranteedEV's comment about arrogance. You've set yourself up as judge and jury and made a ruling about something that hasn't even happened yet and on a topic you are far from an expert!

You have to take a wait and see attitude with prospects and not speak in absolutes unless you yourself have scouted them a lot. And I'm guessing you haven't seen many games of Jankowski's have you? Basically you're saying, "I'm smarter than these scouts who actually go and watch these games even though I'm not even a part-time scout". That is arrogant and an annoying stance to take and too many have taken it in this thread. Enough already.

There are far more players with his college arc that can't hack it than there are turning into top 20 players in the league. It's beyond confusing that you think it only works one way when you make claims in this thread. Maybe instead of ignoring the fact he is 1 of 3 players taken in the first round that year to not be playing pro hockey (which is and should be a reasonable position for discussion on the matter) you should provide some examples of players like him that have turned into top 20 players?

This thread would be good if there could be actual discussion going on instead of people lecturing others on the merits or validity of commenting a certain way.

Wouldn't any fan be happy to see him succeed? If you have some material that can convince otherwise, let's see it please.

[Caged Great]

Janko was the player I was hoping to get from February of his draft year forward. At the time I was disappointed because the Flames were picking at #14 and that it would be too much of a reach.

There wasn't a lot of players in that draft that were noteworthy, and I can understand why the Flames were prepared to trade that pick because the asset in trade likely would have been better than anything they would have taken if not for Janko. All the other guys from 14 through the second round are kind of mediocre except Damon Severson who was taken with the second last pick in the second round.

Janko looks like he'll be at least in the same 3rd line mold as the other guys that were taken between 14-30, but he does have the upside of being potentially more. Maatta and Ceci would be #4's on our team and we likely will have someone equally talented between Kylington/Andersson/Hickey so it's all good.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

There are far more players with his college arc that can't hack it than there are turning into top 20 players in the league. It's beyond confusing that you think it only works one way when you make claims in this thread. Maybe instead of ignoring the fact he is 1 of 3 players taken in the first round that year to not be playing pro hockey (which is and should be a reasonable position for discussion on the matter) you should provide some examples of players like him that have turned into top 20 players?

This thread would be good if there could be actual discussion going on instead of people lecturing others on the merits or validity of commenting a certain way.

Wouldn't any fan be happy to see him succeed? If you have some material that can convince otherwise, let's see it please.

To be fair he said top 20 in his draft year, not in the league. That's a way lower bar, though he is still below it.

[StrykerSteve]

Leads Providence in scoring this season, 30 points in 30 games. Nice progression.

[Red Menace]

Looking back at all drafts since 2000 this certainly seems to be the weakest of the bunch; so it's not very likely that we would have got an impactful player no matter who we chose.
I still wish we had just used the pick at 14 instead of trading down, it wasn't a particularly smart decision considering the state of the organization and the strength of the draft class.
That being said, Janko has progressed this year and just might become a 3rd or 4th line Center. There's only a handful of really good players in this draft, so if we end up getting any NHL players at all, it will be a bonus.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

That being said, Janko has progressed this year and just might become a 3rd or 4th line Center. There's only a handful of really good players in this draft, so if we end up getting any NHL players at all, it will be a bonus.

He's a skilled guy, I think 2nd line centre is still his upside. Saying he can only be a checking line centre is a bit unfair to him IMO.

[devo22]

I also think he has 2nd line upside, but we'll see. Should get plenty of opportunity in Stockton next year.

In any case, Providence certainly was a great choice for him. Leaman seems to have helped him develop and play a complete 200 ft game, which will help him tremendously in his pro career.

[Murph]

Ho hum, another two points this weekend in two games against a tough Notre Dame team. Jankow maintaining his ppg pace.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Janko was the player I was hoping to get from February of his draft year forward. At the time I was disappointed because the Flames were picking at #14 and that it would be too much of a reach.

There wasn't a lot of players in that draft that were noteworthy, and I can understand why the Flames were prepared to trade that pick because the asset in trade likely would have been better than anything they would have taken if not for Janko. All the other guys from 14 through the second round are kind of mediocre except Damon Severson who was taken with the second last pick in the second round.

Janko looks like he'll be at least in the same 3rd line mold as the other guys that were taken between 14-30, but he does have the upside of being potentially more. Maatta and Ceci would be #4's on our team and we likely will have someone equally talented between Kylington/Andersson/Hickey so it's all good.

I loved the pick at the time. Janko looked like one of the only players in the 1st round that had any upside as a skilled centre, albeit one that was going to be a few years away from playing.

At the time the Flames had NO centre prospects with any upside. We had no idea we'd be getting Monahan & Bennett in subsequent years.

Jankowski has developed exactly as expected. He may even be a year ahead of schedule because he skipped going to the USHL before Providence. His body has filled out & he's learned effective & complex defensive systems at the highest level of NCAA hockey. He's won the championship there & he's leading his team with strong offensive play this season.

What's not to like about this prospect? Some people just cannot admit they may have misjudged him.