Summer 2014 Prospect Ranking Poll Rd8

[Zulu29]

Voted Ortio, he had a strong season in the AHL and looked good in his NHL games (except that one where he let 2 softies in). I think he's starter material down the road. I'm more familiar with him than Gillies since I got to watch him in Abbotsford quite a few times so that likely skewed my opinion as well.

[ignite09]

Ortio this round. If we are going to move Granlund into the top five based mostly on his performance last season, then the guy who was arguably the Heats MVP last year deserves to move up a couple spots as well.

[Rick M.]

I voted Reinhart. He does so many things well that I can't see him not being called up to stay very soon.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

There is still a sizeable contingent on this board who feel pretty strongly that Feaster's optimistic projections were certainly not "off base." There have been a myriad of factors that contribute to explaining exactly why Jankowski can still be considered to have an elite level ceiling despite his slower trajectory and low offensive output from the past season.

In short, you have every right to feel that Feaster was wrong about him, but it is still too early to be making these sorts of sweeping generalisations about his future.

Fair enough. I suppose if I were to look at the development of bonafide #1 centres across the league. Or even look at the development histories of "best players in a draft", then I would say that Janko will have to make one helluva jump in his career to start being in the discussion of those comparatives.

I think had Feaster made lighter promises, Janko wouldn't be so contentious

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Split98

Ok, NOW has to be Sieloff time...

...right?

With the depth of the organization and Sieloff's lost season I don't see show he should be in the top 15. He doesn't have high end upside and will still have to show he can compete at the professional level. I actually see Sieloff slipping behind the likes of Gilmour, Kanzig and Kulak. You have to acknowledge other players taking a step forward and Sieloff losing a season. He should tumble down the list.

[OutOfTheCube]

Reinhart all the way!

Jankowski has never been a top ten prospect - was overhyped due to his unwarranted draft position.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

Fair enough. I suppose if I were to look at the development of bonafide #1 centres across the league. Or even look at the development histories of "best players in a draft", then I would say that Janko will have to make one helluva jump in his career to start being in the discussion of those comparatives.

No question. The problem that many posters have pointed out since Jankowski was drafted is that he is such a unique prospect that it is difficult to draw many historical comparisons. We'll see how it plays out, but I for one choose to remain optimistic for at least a little longer.

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I think had Feaster made lighter promises, Janko wouldn't be so contentious

Right again. However, Feaster's optimism and fans expectations will in the end have little bearing on what Jankowski becomes in the end.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

You're right that stats aren't everything. But Janko wasn't drafted as a defensive centre or energy grinder. He was drafted as a bonafide #1 centre.

Now thats unfair to Janko and its not his fault Feaster's comments and projections were way off base. That's just cruel. But we still have guys like Reinhart, Agostino, and Arnold who have equal or similar or greater skill sets than Janko.

To me, Janko should not be above Reinhart, Gillies or Ortio. Perhaps there's a fair argument for him being above everyone else, but not these guys.

In terms of development Jankowski is ahead of where Feaster projected he would be. The guy is still 19, and had he gone to the USHL as was originally planned then he would have only just completed his Freshman year in the NCAA. Advancing to the NCAA when he did was a daunting step and it is unfair to expect him to be putting up gaudy offensive numbers just yet. Just being a regular player as an 18 year old freshman is a good sign for an NHL prospect. Many of them just ride the pine.

I won't hash it out in great detail as it's been explored in depth, but finishing 3rd in scoring on a defense-oriented Providence team as a 18/19 year old is just fine in terms of development. If he had some trigger men on his wing this season he should have had about a dozen more assists.

The fact is, no one should be adjusting their expectations about this player just yet. He was always going to be 5 years away, development wise. He isn't any more of a grinder or role player now than he was on the day he was drafted.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I don't think so. Sieloff understandably will drop a bit this year because of his injuries and staff infection. He is a full year behind now, and will take additional time to re-track. There is still even the chance that he won't get back in line.

I believe Seiloff plays in the NHL this upcoming season.

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by New Era

With the depth of the organization and Sieloff's lost season I don't see show he should be in the top 15. He doesn't have high end upside and will still have to show he can compete at the professional level. I actually see Sieloff slipping behind the likes of Gilmour, Kanzig and Kulak. You have to acknowledge other players taking a step forward and Sieloff losing a season. He should tumble down the list.

I'm not sure about Kanzig. His numbers were pretty low for anyone on the ice for more than 10 mins a night, especially for the WHL. Exposure and simply passing the puck should yield better numbers than what he produced. I think he had an unlucky year, but its still concerning.

[Itse]

Looks like it's going to be a close vote.

[ignite09]

Seems like the split between Ortio/Gillies will probably drop both down a bit further in the standings then they should be. I'd say both are deserving of a top ten spot.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I believe Seiloff plays in the NHL this upcoming season.

He will appear on a call up here or there, but should and will spend the season in the AHL. He has only two games of professional hockey to his credit, and will not even be 21-years-old when the season ends. He likely needs a year to get up to speed in the pro game.

I think next years is his year.

[ignite09]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I believe Seiloff plays in the NHL this upcoming season.

After missing a full year of developement that would be quite the feat.

[Goodlad]

Went with Ortio on this one. I felt it was really close between him and Gillies (with Reinhart and Janko very close as well).

Even though the stats were very close between Gillies and Ortio (with a slight edge for Gillies) Ortio put the numbers up in a much stronger league. He also looks much closer to being NHL ready judging by his brief call up.

I don't want to read too much into Gillies WJC performance, but between that and struggling a bit the following month in the NCAA some eyebrows had to be raised. The world of goalies is littered with guys that can look like world-beaters one night, then struggle to stop a beach ball the next night. Guys with consistency issues rarely become starters in the NHL.

I'm not trying to suggest that Gillies is going to flop or anything, but that brief dip in production was enough to give Ortio the edge in my mind. Granted the rest of the season Gillies looked great, but there are some mild concerns in my mind.

[handgroen]

reinhart, when was the last time we had a guy tear up the ahl like that? and he's not our 8th best prospect?

[MarkGio]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

No question. The problem that many posters have pointed out since Jankowski was drafted is that he is such a unique prospect that it is difficult to draw many historical comparisons. We'll see how it plays out, but I for one choose to remain optimistic for at least a little longer.


Right again. However, Feaster's optimism and fans expectations will in the end have little bearing on what Jankowski becomes in the end.

I'm optimistic, but also realistic. I love his toolbox for a guy of his height, but Reinhart and Ortio drove the Heat last year and both looked pretty good in their NHL debuts. And Gillies speaks for himself.

That, versus a guy who is contentious.

[Bingo]

The oddity that is Mark Jankowski is the flier they took with where they think he'll end up.

I think generally a kid drafted outside of the top 10 is a good young player, but still a player that won't make it unless he continues to improve as he did from age 16 to 18.

With Jankowski he was younger, and untested, and was drafted behind the development base that most first rounders would normally have. He was behind in age, and development.

So his post draft year is more about catching up to the rest of his first round brothers, and then keep moving.

For that I think the key to Jankowski is to continue to move forward, and not stall. he does that and he's a player.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

He will appear on a call up here or there, but should and will spend the season in the AHL. He has only two games of professional hockey to his credit, and will not even be 21-years-old when the season ends. He likely needs a year to get up to speed in the pro game.

I think next years is his year.

I have no doubt that he would have been up for good last year if not for the staph infection....and now knowing he is back and feeling close to 100%, he will spend a month or 2 in Addy, but when he comes to Calgary it will be for good IMO.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by MarkGio

I'm optimistic, but also realistic...

I expect that virtually everyone on this board considers her or himself "realistic," present company included. We each have our own set of priorities for evaluating prospects and projecting them against one another. I really like Reinhart, Ortio (whom I voted for in this round) and Gillies, but I also believe that a longer, more patient view of Jankowski is both warranted and beneficial. Bingo's post was spot on. He started his hockey career behind his peers, and will thus require another year or two of development and assessment. However, he is big, an excellent skater, and has very, very good hands. The package is tantalising enough to both want and believe that he will succeed.