Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

The ultimate question is on track for what? I can't say I saw him play but he didn't exactly light it up or dominate against what is substandard talent compared to the CHL. I'm not saying he's a bust or anything but if he can't dominate at that level I have a hard time believing that he's going to be a difference maker in the NHL. Time will tell but he's going to have to take a big step next season.

I wouldn't say the American Colleges are substandard compared to the CHL. They may not have as many top end talented players but they make up for it in being older and more mature. Last time I looked they are rated above the CHL as a league. One problem they do have is there is no fighting so it may not be as tough as the CHL and so there maybe more of an adjustment to pro.

As for being on track, it's obviously on track for the NHL. He's making progress, not great progress but I'd only panic if he starts to flatline like Chucko did. We'll have a better read on what we've got after the next year or two.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I wouldn't say the American Colleges are substandard compared to the CHL. They may not have as many top end talented players but they make up for it in being older and more mature. Last time I looked they are rated above the CHL as a league. One problem they do have is there is no fighting so it may not be as tough as the CHL and so there maybe more of an adjustment to pro.

As for being on track, it's obviously on track for the NHL. He's making progress, not great progress but I'd only panic if he starts to flatline like Chucko did. We'll have a better read on what we've got after the next year or two.

I'm not panicking or anything but he needs to take another step next season and he needs to do it at the center position. The kid was seen as a wild card by scouts because nobody has really seen enough of him to project his potential. It's safe to say that a year later there are still a lot of unanswered questions.

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

I wouldn't say the American Colleges are substandard compared to the CHL. They may not have as many top end talented players but they make up for it in being older and more mature. Last time I looked they are rated above the CHL as a league. One problem they do have is there is no fighting so it may not be as tough as the CHL and so there maybe more of an adjustment to pro.

As for being on track, it's obviously on track for the NHL. He's making progress, not great progress but I'd only panic if he starts to flatline like Chucko did. We'll have a better read on what we've got after the next year or two.

I agree. If Canadian university teams can beat our World Junior teams in exhibition games, then I don't think American College/University teams would be substandard competition.

But like you and Erick Estrada say, next year will be an important year. Remember too, if Jankowski was a week younger, he'd be drafted this year. Where? Who knows.

[puds]

I also don't think "..the kid was seen as a wild card by scouts because nobody has really seen enough of him to project his potential" is really true. From what I've read, scouts were high on his potential but very uncertain on the likelihood of it's fulfillment due to playing in a high school league.

I think Jankowski had a solid but unremarkable season. Imo, it answers some questions because he was clearly able to make the jump to a more competitive league (to reiterate, a better league than the CHL) and performed reasonably well given the circumstances (age, quality of team, difference in high school hockey vs ncaa).

I think Jankowski's second season in the NCAA will give us a better idea of how likely he is to fulfill his potential. If he puts up >0.8ppg I think it's fairly likely we have a player on our hands.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

I agree. If Canadian university teams can beat our World Junior teams in exhibition games, then I don't think American College/University teams would be substandard competition.

Certain College teams would win certain ones would get killed.

CHL is a much better league to develop NHL level talent but with the older kids, who are less talented, the top NCAA would be able to compete with the CHL teams.

[neo45]

Good NCAA teams are better than CHL teams and it is not even close. There are 26 year old men playing in the NCAA! 5 years older than the oldest player in the CHL, huge difference

As far as which is the better developmental league, CHL has the edge especially when it comes to superstars in the NHL

[Matty81]

It's an interesting question. While NCAA teams have players who are older, I think the talent gap isn't even close, the CHL is much better and deeper as demonstrated by the NHL draft. Cream of the crop from Canada goes CHL and cream of the crop from the States goes NCAA. Not much of a competition for me. If the best CHL team (Halifax) was gearing up to face the best NCAA team (Yale) they'd drop their 15 and 16 year olds and pummel them. I don't think over a 7 game series that would be even close. Some NCAA teams could for sure beat some CHL teams but high end vs high end would be a blowout.

Age evens it out a little but then the NCAA players on average are much less physical, wear those big cage visors and have no fighting - if they had to play a series with CHL rules they'd be well out of their comfort level, if it was NCAA rules maybe they'd have a chance...

[Johnny Rotten]

Originally Posted by neo45

Good NCAA teams are better than CHL teams and it is not even close. There are 26 year old men playing in the NCAA! 5 years older than the oldest player in the CHL, huge difference

As far as which is the better developmental league, CHL has the edge especially when it comes to superstars in the NHL

Not to mention the fact that CHL teams have many 16-18 year old kids also.

The top-notch kids would probably develop better in junior hockey. Jankowski, it can be argued, may better develop in the NCAA because of a better opportunity to practice/workout.

[MisterJoji]

Originally Posted by Johnny Rotten

I think I'd take Craig's opinion over Pierre McGuire's if for no other reason than I think Button sees these young guys play more than McGuire does. I'm guessing Pierre never saw Jankowski play last year.

Craig's history of draft choices is decent.

Derian Hatcher
Jere Lehtinen
Jamie Langenbrunner
Marty Turco
Brendan Morrow
Jarome Iginla
Kurtis Foster
Jarret Stoll

Safe to say he was much better for the Stars than the Flames, but his biggest problem when he was here was giving up on the young guys too soon. I think the major majority of his work now consists of scouting, and I trust his opinion over windbag Maguire any day.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MisterJoji

Craig's history of draft choices is decent.

Derian Hatcher
Jere Lehtinen
Jamie Langenbrunner
Marty Turco
Brendan Morrow
Jarome Iginla
Kurtis Foster
Jarret Stoll

Safe to say he was much better for the Stars than the Flames, but his biggest problem when he was here was giving up on the young guys too soon. I think the major majority of his work now consists of scouting, and I trust his opinion over windbag Maguire any day.

Can't count Foster or Stoll as he wasn't allowed to participate in the first draft. And of course he didn't sign either Foster or Stoll allowing Stoll to re-enter and Foster to go UFA. Apparently he did have a deal with Stoll to TOR for a 2nd and 4th but fax problems f'd it up.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Jankowski:

Over .5PPG
YOUNGEST player in the NCAA (correct me if I am wrong)
HUGE growth spurt - probably still 'clumsy' I bet
Physically VERY immature - toothpick
Injury (and Weisbrod made him sit out even longer 'just to make sure')
Went from non-systems play to higher-end systems play than in the CHL
Went from LOUSY quality of competition in his league, to VERY talented competition
Went from playing against young kids to playing against men
Was on an offensively inept team (as compared to the other teams)

I just don't see how anyone could possibly think this was a 'bad' season, or that he is showing signs of busting. If anything, once you factor it all in, I think he had a very good season. The biggest 'worry' about him was that he would completely bust against a high-quality of competition. I think he showed he can keep his head above water, and factoring all the above - I would say he did much more than that.

Wait until he starts catching up to his body!

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Jankowski:

Over .5PPG
YOUNGEST player in the NCAA (correct me if I am wrong)
HUGE growth spurt - probably still 'clumsy' I bet
Physically VERY immature - toothpick
Injury (and Weisbrod made him sit out even longer 'just to make sure')
Went from non-systems play to higher-end systems play than in the CHL
Went from LOUSY quality of competition in his league, to VERY talented competition
Went from playing against young kids to playing against men
Was on an offensively inept team (as compared to the other teams)

I just don't see how anyone could possibly think this was a 'bad' season, or that he is showing signs of busting. If anything, once you factor it all in, I think he had a very good season. The biggest 'worry' about him was that he would completely bust against a high-quality of competition. I think he showed he can keep his head above water, and factoring all the above - I would say he did much more than that.

Wait until he starts catching up to his body!

If he isn't a bust, which I don't think he is, he will be a pro after his third year of college. Next year he will play center, take a larger role on the team, and acclimate to more minutes while getting more comfortable with his size. The year after that, he will be the straw that stirs the Providence drink. Then he will be a professional.

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Jankowski is still 175lbs after a year of being drafted is he one of these kids with high metabolism and just can't gain weight. If he was lifting you would think he would have gained at least some weight i mean the guy is 6'2.

First year 34 GP and 18 pts looks like he was 4th on the team for points.

Guy was 150lbs when he was drafted and from his tweet a month ago he hasn't surpassed 170 yet. He was 168ish if I remember correctly.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

I just don't see how anyone could possibly think this was a 'bad' season, or that he is showing signs of busting. If anything, once you factor it all in, I think he had a very good season. The biggest 'worry' about him was that he would completely bust against a high-quality of competition. I think he showed he can keep his head above water, and factoring all the above - I would say he did much more than that.

Wait until he starts catching up to his body!

I may have missed some posts but it seems like the majority of posts you are talking about are pointing out that he had an alright season and hasn't done/shown anything to change the view of him being a bust that existed when he was drafted.

I don't think anyone thinks he is more likely to bust now just that the same concerns that existed at draft time exist now. I could have missed someone that did take a more extreme view though.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Jankowski:

Over .5PPG
YOUNGEST player in the NCAA (correct me if I am wrong)
HUGE growth spurt - probably still 'clumsy' I bet
Physically VERY immature - toothpick
Injury (and Weisbrod made him sit out even longer 'just to make sure')
Went from non-systems play to higher-end systems play than in the CHL
Went from LOUSY quality of competition in his league, to VERY talented competition
Went from playing against young kids to playing against men
Was on an offensively inept team (as compared to the other teams)

I just don't see how anyone could possibly think this was a 'bad' season, or that he is showing signs of busting. If anything, once you factor it all in, I think he had a very good season. The biggest 'worry' about him was that he would completely bust against a high-quality of competition. I think he showed he can keep his head above water, and factoring all the above - I would say he did much more than that.

Wait until he starts catching up to his body!

It was a good season for him all things considered. Nothing says he can't be an NHL player but clearly needs to progress next year to stay on that trajectory. He's going to have to REALLY progress if he's going to be the best player out of his draft in nine years

[Vinny01]

Jankowski was talked about as a 4-5 year project. It seems like he skipped a year by not going to Dubuque but is still likely going to play all 4 years of college before coming to Calgary. Hoping he is a Hobey Baker winner by the time he finishes his tim in Providence.

[puds]

Originally Posted by moon

I may have missed some posts but it seems like the majority of posts you are talking about are pointing out that he had an alright season and hasn't done/shown anything to change the view of him being a bust that existed when he was drafted.

I think the point, is that he is done something to lower his bust potential ie stepped into a higher league and performed reasonably well given circumstances. You just seem content to ignore this so whatever.

[moon]

Originally Posted by puds

I think the point, is that he is done something to lower his bust potential ie stepped into a higher league and performed reasonably well given circumstances. You just seem content to ignore this so whatever.

I am not ignoring it. He played fine in the league. Not well enough to indicate he will be an NHL player but not so out of place to write him off. I don't think just playing fine in the NCAA for Providence does much to lessen his bust potential.

He seems to be at about the same point as last year in terms of bust likelihood and that isn't a bad thing or good thing. As someone said we knew making this pick that this was going to be a long term development so as long as he isn't taking steps backwards there is nothing wrong at this point.

[puds]

I guess I look at long term prospect development a bit differently than you. I think that the main concern in his draft year was that people weren't sure how his game would translate to a higher level of competition. I think he gets a check in the box for this because he met expectations in the NCAA. I'm not saying he's going to be a NHL player, I'm saying that he addressed the major concern scouts had with him at the time he was drafted.

Next year, I'll be more focused on his PPG and think it will need to see improve significantly if he is to become a 1st line C in the NHL.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by moon

I may have missed some posts but it seems like the majority of posts you are talking about are pointing out that he had an alright season and hasn't done/shown anything to change the view of him being a bust that existed when he was drafted.

The view of him being a bust?? Whose view was that? Certainly heard risky, off the board, but bust at the time he was drafted?? Who has said that besides you?