[Signing] Flames sign Jankowski to two yr ELC starting in 16/17. Will report to Stockton on ATO

[Toonage]

I just can't see the team sitting Stajan given his contract, and I also can't see them using him primarily at wing with it being crowded with bigger/faster options for the bottom 6. I figure if he makes the team, Jankowski draws in on the wing or not at all until there is an injury forcing a call up.

[MrMastodonFarm]

If (if) Jankowski makes it out of camp I'd like to see him on the left wing with Backlund or on the 4th line at center with Stajan on his wing.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

If (if) Jankowski makes it out of camp I'd like to see him on the left wing with Backlund or on the 4th line at center with Stajan on his wing.

I like this idea a lot.
Even the second one works.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Stylistically Backlund with Jankowski would be great. However I dont think a rookie could keep up with Backlunds defensive assignments and the fact he is usually matched against the other teams top line and in the defensive zone. If he could, that would be super impressive, although I wouldnt be shocked as he is coming from a super defensive team in a defensive/physical league. But I dont think he would be asked to early in his career or atleast until he proved he could keep up on another line with easier opposition and offensive zone starts.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

Stylistically Backlund with Jankowski would be great. However I dont think a rookie could keep up with Backlunds defensive assignments and the fact he is usually matched against the other teams top line and in the defensive zone. If he could, that would be super impressive, although I wouldnt be shocked as he is coming from a super defensive team in a defensive/physical league. But I dont think he would be asked to early in his career or atleast until he proved he could keep up on another line with easier opposition and offensive zone starts.

Bennett did well with Frolik and Backlund.

[Toonage]

There would be growing pains but I think he'd adjust quite well on the wing with Backlund & Frolik. Really, can't think of two better players to bring him along in that role.

[Hot_Flatus]

I feel as though it would be somewhat foolish of the Flames to put Jankowski into the NHL lineup at this point. They've already patiently invested years in his development at the collegiate level , so there's little harm in him spending an entire season in the AHL. I've never seen him as a guy that will have the offensive ability to play in the top 6 but you might as well throw him into the fire in Stockton as a go to guy and see what happens.

Plunking him down on the 4th line with Stajan at this point would pretty much be waving the white flag saying this is all we expect you to be.

[DropIt]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I feel as though it would be somewhat foolish of the Flames to put Jankowski into the NHL lineup at this point. They've already patiently invested years in his development at the collegiate level , so there's little harm in him spending an entire season in the AHL. I've never seen him as a guy that will have the offensive ability to play in the top 6 but you might as well throw him into the fire in Stockton as a go to guy and see what happens.

Plunking him down on the 4th line with Stajan at this point would pretty much be waving the white flag saying this is all we expect you to be.

Hard disagree.

Bennett and Backlund are both prime examples of players on just our own team that benefited from playing a 3/4 line role to learn how to play proper defense before being trusted with top 6 minutes. If he needs time in the AHL, he will be there but if he earns a spot on the team it wont be because we are settling on him being a bottom 6 forward.

The reality of Janko's situation is that with Monahan, Bennett and Backlund here or a while he is going to have to take a top 9 center position so making him earn it from the 4th line is a good way to start

[GoJetsGo]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I feel as though it would be somewhat foolish of the Flames to put Jankowski into the NHL lineup at this point.

This is an odd outlook, since the purpose of training camp is to allow the players to dictate who does and doesn't make the team based on their play.

If Jankowski somehow starts the season on the big club, it will be because he earned it with his play, not simply because the Flames "put" him there willy nilly.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

I feel as though it would be somewhat foolish of the Flames to put Jankowski into the NHL lineup at this point. They've already patiently invested years in his development at the collegiate level , so there's little harm in him spending an entire season in the AHL. I've never seen him as a guy that will have the offensive ability to play in the top 6 but you might as well throw him into the fire in Stockton as a go to guy and see what happens.

Plunking him down on the 4th line with Stajan at this point would pretty much be waving the white flag saying this is all we expect you to be.

When all is said and done he probably does start the year and spend most of it in Stockton but if he pushes in camp I doubt the Flames will hold him (or anyone in a similar situation) back.

Really disagree with the whole white flag part, injuries will happen guys who move up and down the line up, maybe Jankowski plays 10 minutes one night on the 4th line, maybe the next he moves up, sees some PK or PP time and his minutes increase. Whatever role a player is in day one hardly dictates his role a month a week or a day after that.

Crumpy-Gunt also mentioned the defensive assignments Backlund's line would get but we're really not sure how Gulutzan will role those out either. Will the middle 6 go up against the other teams top line, or will it be top line vs top line.

[Flash Walken]

The other thing is we don't know where Bennett will slot into the lineup and how he has progressed. It may be bennett and backlund sharing time on the second line which might leave a bottom 6 centre spot up for grabs.

I can't say yet whether bennett is a winger or a centre at the NHL level, it will be interesting to see what kind of season he puts together.

Could see it being:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - ______
______ - Jankowski - ______

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

When all is said and done he probably does start the year and spend most of it in Stockton but if he pushes in camp I doubt the Flames will hold him (or anyone in a similar situation) back.

Really disagree with the whole white flag part, injuries will happen guys who move up and down the line up, maybe Jankowski plays 10 minutes one night on the 4th line, maybe the next he moves up, sees some PK or PP time and his minutes increase. Whatever role a player is in day one hardly dictates his role a month a week or a day after that.

Crumpy-Gunt also mentioned the defensive assignments Backlund's line would get but we're really not sure how Gulutzan will role those out either. Will the middle 6 go up against the other teams top line, or will it be top line vs top line.

I don't disagree that he could move his way up the lineup at all. When you consider the fact that Jankowski has developed on the slow side of things the last 4 years, why would you now accelerate the process and roll the dice to an extent? If he looks ready in camp, great. But there is not much sense to have him play 10 minutes a night (even once in a while) with low skill players when he could be playing big minutes, including a ton of special teams in Stockton.

It's easy to forget that being a first year pro, out of college is an extremely challenging ask. The safest route and potentially the most beneficial in my eyes is a year in the AHL.

[FanIn80]

I think:

Monahan
Bennett
Backlund
Jankowski

Is the dream.


Edit: Can't believe I forgot about Backlund.

[djsFlames]

Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik

[Five-hole]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Jankowski - Backlund - Frolik

I think that could work. Janko is no stranger to defensive responsibility and learning from those two on a shift-by-shift basis would be good for him.

[FlameZilla]

Genuinely excited about Djanko, but I also genuinely think he could use a year of minor pro hockey in the AHL before making the jump.

I would like to see him put up some points & rack up a lot of TOI with the Heat before spending a season in sheltered, bottom 6 minutes with the Flames. It could mean the difference between him being a player who can contribute offensively or one who just shuts down opposition forwards.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

The other thing is we don't know where Bennett will slot into the lineup and how he has progressed. It may be bennett and backlund sharing time on the second line which might leave a bottom 6 centre spot up for grabs.

I can't say yet whether bennett is a winger or a centre at the NHL level, it will be interesting to see what kind of season he puts together.

Could see it being:

Gaudreau - Monahan - Brouwer
Bennett - Backlund - Frolik
Bouma - Stajan - ______
______ - Jankowski - ______

I think Bennett on the wing was a huge mistake by Hartley, and I'm guessing the organization felt the same way. Millions has eluded to Hartley's usage of Bennett being problematic from the team's perspective.

There's no way Stajan plays C ahead of Bennett.

[MikePatton]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

Millions has eluded to Hartley's usage of Bennett being problematic from the team's perspective.

Do you have a link handy? I hadn't heard this (not doubting you).

[bax]

Originally Posted by MikePatton

Do you have a link handy? I hadn't heard this (not doubting you).

Don't have the link, but it was during the introduction of Gulutzan. They opened up the press conference to questions and Millions asked a question that implied this.

[Enoch Root]

Bennett will play C until/unless he fails at it (which he won't)

And the last place he'll play is as Backlund's LW, getting defensive responsibilities as his primary utilization.

He'll play C, and he'll get better line-mates - probably Brouwer.