[News] Flames recall Jankowski UPD: Will center Bennett and Lazar vs NSH

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Cantrader

Wonder if he is going to play wing or center??

shouldn't even be a question. Move Bennett to the wing and Janko takes his C spot.

[Backlunds_socks]

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

If I could guess, GG will want to make the fresh rookie play wing, and the more experienced player play centre. Not that it's right, but that's my guess

You are right

Originally Posted by devo22

shouldn't even be a question. Move Bennett to the wing and Janko takes his C spot.

I don't think GG has the vision for moves like that.

[Bunk]

I predict he never plays in an AHL game ever again.

[Puppet Guy]

[The Fonz]

Gaudreau Monahan Bennett
Tkachuk Backlund Frolik
Versteeg Jankowski Lazar

[sureLoss]

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/oppo...ds/c-292190200

When informed he'd been sent down to the AHL after an eye-catching camp here in Calgary, Mark Jankowski didn't tear up.

Instead, he's torn it up.

Five goals, eight points and a tidy plus-8 in the early going for the Stockton Heat.

"If you feel sorry for yourself, you just get in your own head, not in a good way, and wind up doing yourself way more harm than good,'' reasons the 23-year-old centre, summoned by the Flames in time for Monday morning's pre-charter-flight practice at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

"Obviously I was frustrated when it happened because I thought I'd had a good camp.

"But my goal as soon as I found out I was being sent down was to work on what they told me to and do everything I possibly could to be back up top as soon as possible.

"That was the only thing on my mind."

Well, a lower-body injury sustained by Jaromir Jagr early during Saturday's loss to the Minnesota Wild has pried the door open in no time flat.

"That's part of it, right?'' says Flames' GM Brad Treliving. "That's what you're supposed to do: Go down and play well. Some guys don't, they're maybe feeling a little sorry for themselves, then they stay down for a while and wonder why.

"An opportunity has opened up and by his play during camp and the start of the season (in Stockton), his number gets called.

"It's a good lesson to everybody that this is how you do it."

The identities of Jankowski's new Calgary linemates, where he's best to slot in, will naturally be the talk of Flames fandom. Second line? Third line? Or fourth? Centre? Wing? PK or second-unit PP? Here, there or everywhere?

"Wherever they want me, wherever they need me,'' reckons Jankowski. "I can adapt. I'm just excited for the chance. At training camp it was pretty much all centre but in college my first year was spent pretty much on the wing. So I feel comfortable at all three forward positions.

"I felt really confident as the camp went on, got better and better, to the point where I thought I could make an impact.

"Now I have to trust my game.

"This is the best league, these are the best players, in the world. The 200-foot game is so important.

"You make one mistake and it's usually in the back of your net. So I've really tried focusing on that - my two-way game - while I was here."

Understandably, Treliving is loathe to heap too much expectation on Jankowski, particularly in the throes of a poor patch of results the last two games.

Pre-season, he's quick to point out, is indisputably valuable and informative but still, cutting to the chase, only dress-rehearsal. The regular season represents the curtain going up on Broadway 82 nights a year.

"For me, let's pump the brakes a bit here,'' Treliving cautioned. "Everybody's excited - and it's not that we're not excited - but this is a young man with one real NHL game under his belt.

"The expectation that he's going to show up and walk on water is ludicrous. They have a good day, a good week or a couple good games and everybody's saying: 'It's time!'

"Part of it is in Calgary we've seen players jump right into the NHL out of junior or college in the past. That's not the norm. Usually they have to go to the American league and learn the craft.

"So he's just got to come up and play the way he did in camp. It's going to be different. Different pace, different lineups to play against. But he's earned the opportunity to jump in."

[Geeoff]

#rehireFeaster

[Finger Cookin]

I'm not overly focused on where Jankowski slots in, because no matter the position or the role it's going to upset a segment of the members here. I'm more interested in how he fits in and how his game looks against full time NHL players. It's going to be exciting to see this play out.

[Clever_Iggy]

Excellent. Jankowski has 3 games to entrench himself and make it even more difficult to send him down rather than cutting/denoting someone else (as if his this was an issue of skill and not just a "numbers game anyway").

Personally, I would try:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Jankowski - Lazar/Brouwer
Whatever - Whatever - Whatever

Bennett looked his best playing with Backlund and Frolik and they seem to make it the easiest on rookies/those that are struggling. Plus, that Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik line hasn't been as good this year. Give Tkachuk a chance to take his skill set up to the top line where I think it's a good fit to dig pucks out, play along the boards and be his usual self. Give Jankowski's line lots of neutral/offensive zone starts and shelter as much as you can (two away games back to back makes that tougher).

Bennett on the top line is appealing but if there's a lot of pressure to produce right away. If he doesn't, then what? My proposal seems like a more moderate step.

Jankowski on the wing (with Frolik and Backlund) makes some sense, but he's been at centre so long and Treliving/Gulutzen's belief that putting centres on the wing doesn't help their development (see comments from Tre against moving Bennett to the winger earlier this year), makes me think he's playing Centre or back in the AHL.

What would be unfortunate is to keep Bennett as the C for the third line and have Jankowski centre Stajan and [insert plug].

[CroFlames]

I'm excited too. Kid deserves it.

I would temper expectations though. This defence needs to tighten up first.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm excited too. Kid deserves it.

I would temper expectations though. This defence needs to tighten up first.

I agree. I hope all the talk don't create unrealistic expectations. Treliving is right when he said you have to pump the brakes.

[gargamel]

Originally Posted by AC

So good it’s worth signing in to thank.

[GullFoss]

Johnny-Monahan-Janko

[Gaudfather]

[Gaskal]

Walking on water? I have no idea what Treliving is talking about, I fully expect Janko to come in and score 4 goals in his next game while absolutely stifling Johansen and dummying Josi repeatedly.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I'm excited too. Kid deserves it.

I would temper expectations though. This defence needs to tighten up first.

It's exciting to see him get in the lineup but I hope fans have realistic expectations. The Flames issues are deeper than one or two player changes.

[transplant99]

If Im Gulutzan, I put Jankowski right into Bennetts spot and let Sam watch a while from the press box. He has been nothing but brutal and is a loooong way from being a decent NHLer and even further from being a difference maker.

Jankowski can jump in between a couple good vets and just do what he does and have some success right off the bat which can do nothing but help him going forward.

[calumniate]

Jamie Lundmark 2.0!

[bubbsy]

Finally indeed.

Curious how the flames slot him in, and how creative they get with the lines. Other than Monahan/Gaudreau, no line combo has looked good enough to contemplate something different.

The most conservative approach:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Ferland
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Bennett - Lazar
Glass - Jankowksi - Brouwer

Certain combo i'd love to see tried:
Gaudreau - Monahan - Bennett
Tkachuk - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Jankowski - Ferland

Or they could really just get creative and try something different altogether
Gaudreau - Monahan - Tkachuk
Bennet - Backlund - Frolik
Versteeg - Jankowski - Ferland/Brouwer

I'm sure they don't want to go that route, too much change all of a sudden may not be worth it. But if lines continue to lack creating any kind of offense, i would like to see Gulutzan at least try different combinations of our high skill young players force fed some top 6/9 mins together.

[wretched34]

I think this could really settle the line swapping, and give the Flames an opportunity to get some consistency going. Obviously you don't want a tonne of pressure on Janko, but you want to give him an opportunity to succeed. What I'd like to see is:
Tkachuk-Monahan-Gaudreau
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Ferland-Jankowski-Versteeg
Stajan/Glass-Lazar-Brouwer

I think that gives the top line a little more umph with Tkachuk providing what everyone wanted Ferland to provide, in some grit and sandpaper, with the ability to open up the ice for Johnny and Money.
Bennett gets the chance to relax with a little less responsibility, with the most responsible defensive forward pair, where he can concentrate a little more on getting his scoring touch back.
Jankowski gets a big physical winger with a great shot, and a vet who has proven he can keep up and pitch in.

I'm actually looking forward to the next game now, even after the disappointment of the last few.