[News] Flames announce 2017/18 opening day roster. Jankowski assigned to Stockton

[tsquared1967]

Alex Chaisson was on his way to the AHL but GG felt he needed a top notch RW and had the Flames make the trade with the Senators. Chaisson ended the year on the 3rd and 4th line.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

Alex Chaisson was on his way to the AHL but GG felt he needed a top notch RW and had the Flames make the trade with the Senators. Chaisson ended the year on the 3rd and 4th line.

I'm not sure this is how events unfolded.

[Samonadreau]

I think Janko and Glass should both be on the team opening night. Same line that played against WPG last preseason game for the first game against the Coilers and then rotate Stajan in for Glass and Lazar for Brouwer when Jags is in. Find the best combo. Gives Janko reps against NHL competition and he could still get 12 minutes a night. I dont buy the 4th line is no good for him excuse.

[OzSome]

Not happy that Jankowski did not make the opening roster but I am hoping he'll get called up right away after a few games. I am not upset the Stajan, Glass and even Brouwer are still playing in Calgary. I totally understand why they kept these 3 over Jankowski. Stajan is still serviceable defensive forward and leader with the Flames. Brouwer I think were being used on the wrong lines last season. He was more effective when he started playing on the 4th line. Tanner Glass, which I am not really a fan of will be our Engelland last few seasons. Someone who will respond to anyone that is trying to cheapshot our star player. Curtis Lazar they wanted to keep because he have an upside but I would think he will be a short leased this season. If he doesn't produce anything soon I would think they will send him down and pretty much give up on him. Garnet Hathaway will be in Stockton as soon as Jaromir Jagr comes to Calgary. What I don't understand is Freddie Hamilton. What does he do to this team? He was awful vs the Canucks and really belongs to the AHL. Not sure he came close to even outplaying Jankowski in the pre-season. I am absolutely sure he will clear waivers no problem.

[DazzlinDino]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I do think there is a plan in place. But the plan people are suggesting doesn't make sense. If they wanted Jankowski up immediately they would have him up. Hathaway has previously cleared waivers and could be sent down immediately. Hamilton has to clear but can clearly be sent down. There is no need to do a paper transaction.

As I said above, I think it is most likely they value Stajan as a defensive center. The Monahan and Bennett lines are offensive. Backlund can't do it all. Stajan runs the second pk unit and gives then another defensive option 5 on 5. They likely don't want Jankowski in that role. Either because they don't think he is ready or they don't want to develop him that way.

So they made the decision to demote Jankowski. I think Jankowski should be given a shot in that role and is better off playing in the NHL. My opinion.

I think the coaches have a plan in place and don't feel there is a need to rush him in on the first game of the season. Does it matter if he plays the first game or few games of the season? Have we forgotten what happened last season when too many players couldn't grasp the system right out of the gate. I think we need to give the coaches some benefit they have to get the team ready for Edmonton and may feel they don't want to throw Jankowski into that just yet until they get some team consistency?

[kehatch]

I will close with this. In a cap league the difference between being a contender or not being a contender is often the ability to add an impact player from your system. An impact player on an ELC is pure gold in a cap system.

If you have a young player on a budget contract ready for the NHL and capable of making a difference then you play him.

Tanner Glass, Freddie Hamilton, or Garnet Hathaway playing 8 minutes or less a night won't be the difference. Matt Stajan taking the occasional defensive zone draw won't be the difference.

Jankowski might be a difference maker. There is still plenty of time to get him in the roster. But after the camp we just had it is discouraging to see the coaches and management prioritize veterans and grinders over him.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by iamca

My biggest concern is still goaltending. I'll say this, Smith should be given the opportunity to prove he's worth the number one goalie, but Lack showed nothing that would indicate he's an NHL capable backup.

Scary if this strategy goes awry... then what?

I agree. I don’t think this is getting enough play amongst all the debate about our fourth line.

To me, this season has huge potential.... contender potential, and the biggest X factor is goaltending. I really want to see Smith have a good start to the season, don’t want to see him lose confidence early.

If smith and lack are busts the Flames may supplant the Flyers as the leading goaltender graveyard in the NHL. If they’re good, we could be looking at a division title and deep playoff run.

[FireGilbert]

It sucks that Janko didn't make the opening night roster but I fully expect there to be injuries and roster moves and that he will be a permanent part of the team by season's end.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Every post I see with: "Freddie Hamilton made it but Jankowski got demoted!" gets passed over by me. This is a silly argument. Freddie has been a pro at not playing. 26 games played last year. Just over 1/4 of the games. In what world would it make sense to have Jankowski take his spot? Why are people crying about not demoting a Freddie Hamilton so that Jankowski can take his spot on the roster? FFS, that is an absurd argument, and one that is both illogical and borne out of sheer impatience. It is like some people want to see Jankowski's name on the roster just to see it, even if it is as the 13th forward who never plays.

Just because there is a player at a certain spot on the roster doesn't mean that player is more important to the Flames or is more deserving of that spot. Players slot differently. People are freaking out because they don't see Jankowski named to the opening night roster, even if it is on the 4th line (or worse!).

Is Jankowski's upside a 4th liner or even a third liner? I argue that he isn't. You aren't going to see Klimchuk, Poirier, Shinkaruk, Mangiapane or Phillips in that spot, are you? Monahan, Bennett, Gaudreau, etc., never had to play 4th line - why does Jankowski? Who is he going to be playing against on that line? Guys like Dorsett in Vancouver...

IMO, Jankowski made the team. He made it. Now it is up to Treliving to make room for him, or wait for an injury (that almost always happens). If the Flames' organization didn't like Jankowski, including Gulutzan, then you would NOT have seen him line up at center with Bennett on his wing for a period or so. The organization is keen to see what he can do, and just like everyone else, was probably fairly impressed with it.

Being named to the opening night roster doesn't mean you 'made it'. FFS, Grossman was named to the opening night roster, and how many fricken games did he play last year?

How about looking back at last year. This was the opening night roster for last year:
https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...er/c-282561834

Look how many guys didn't play the full season. Look at how many were traded away. This with the Flames actually being fairly healthy. What are the chances that the Flames experience another fairly healthy season?

The fact of the matter is that Jankowski didn't make it this year right off the bat for a variety of reasons, including:

• This is a more difficult team to make this season. Flames are a deeper and more talented squad than last year.
• Flames are smart not to leave spots wide open for prospects. These prospects we have so much angst over often don't pan out (see Boyd, Dustin, who is now plying his trade in the KHL).
• Just because a prospect makes it, doesn't mean he should immediately be placed on the team. There is a lot of behind the scenes asset management that needs to take place. Flames need time to make room for him.
• Depth is so critical - it is nice knowing that Jankowski can go down and kill it in the AHL in all situations, and be ready to jump back in to help when needed.
• I suspect that Gulutzan has somewhat learned a lesson from last season, and wants to show up in Edmonton with a more veteran lineup that knows the system better, and more than likely wants to show up with some toughness. That Edmonton line up has the potential to steamroll Calgary physically.

Jankowski not starting on day one doesn't mean he hasn't earned it. What it probably means is that the Flames are high on him, and want him competing in real games until they can make room for him on the roster. This is coming from a huge "Jankowski fan boy" who has been defending him from day one (especially on the back-burner) for years now. Yes he is ready, but Treliving isn't a guy (nor should he be) to leave a spot wide-open for someone to take it, knowing that a prospect sometimes falters and suddenly doesn't pan out. That would be asinine. With Jankowski's performance, he is now tasked with trying to do his job - proper asset management - in trying to make room for a prospect that deserves a spot. This was probably something that was told to Jankowski today I would bet.

[josef]

Originally Posted by browna

Long time CPers will see another amusing name who had his own threads on the unprotected list.

Jason Morgan
Best Waiver-Thread ever

[JohnnyB]

Having just spent a bunch of time watching Jagr highlights, I would love for Janko to have time getting a chance to play or practise with him. Jagr knows how to use his size to shield the puck amazingly well. If Janko could learn to use his frame like that he would have a place on any team in the league.

[getbak]

Last season, the Flames were remarkably healthy. The Flames had 10 players play at least 81 games last season (only 145 players league-wide played 81 games last season).

Excluding Smid, the Flames had 65 lost man-games due to injury last season: https://www.nhl.com/flames/team/injury-report

• Nov. 9 - Matthew Tkachuk (wrist) - missed 2 games
• Nov. 3 - Nov. 23 - Kris Versteeg (groin) - missed 9 games
• Nov. 23 - Nov. 25 - Kris Versteeg (maintenance) - missed 1 game
• Nov. 15 - Dec. 4 - Johnny Gaudreau (broken finger) - missed 10 games
• Nov. 5 - Dec. 8 - Lance Bouma (shoulder) - missed 17 games
• Dec. 8 - Dec. 14 - Kris Versteeg (upper body) - missed 2 games
• Dec. 24 - Jan. 13 - Troy Brouwer (broken finger) missed 8 games
• Jan. 12 - Jan. 19 - Micheal Ferland (lower body) - missed 3 games
• Jan. 17-Feb.3 - Garnet Hathaway (upper body) - missed 8 games
• March 11- March 15 - Michael Stone (upper body) - Missed 3 games
• March 19- March 21 - Micheal Ferland (illness) - Missed 2 games

In November, Versteeg, Gaudreau, and Bouma were all out at the same time. Otherwise, there was virtually no overlap in the injuries either.


Last season, the Flames had 12 forwards play at least 61 games. 10 played at least 70. 6 played at least 80. Any way you slice it, those are remarkably high numbers.


For comparison, since the lockout, this is how many forwards have played 70+ games each season for the Flames:

• 05-06: 8
• 06-07: 7
• 07-08: 9
• 08-09: 8
• 09-10: 4
• 10-11: 9
• 11-12: 4
• 12-13: N/A
• 13-14: 6
• 14-15: 4
• 15-16: 7
• 16-17: 10

If you adjust the number to 60+ games, it's almost always 9 forwards. In those same seasons, 2010-11 had 10 forwards hit 60+ and 14-15 & 15-16 both had 8. All the other seasons had 9. Last season's count of 12 60+ forwards was a huge anomaly.



While it would be great if history repeated itself this season. That's highly unlikely. There will almost-certainly be opportunities for AHL players to get into games.

[JerryUnderscore]

Originally Posted by kehatch

I will close with this. In a cap league the difference between being a contender or not being a contender is often the ability to add an impact player from your system. An impact player on an ELC is pure gold in a cap system.

If you have a young player on a budget contract ready for the NHL and capable of making a difference then you play him.

Tanner Glass, Freddie Hamilton, or Garnet Hathaway playing 8 minutes or less a night won't be the difference. Matt Stajan taking the occasional defensive zone draw won't be the difference.

Jankowski might be a difference maker. There is still plenty of time to get him in the roster. But after the camp we just had it is discouraging to see the coaches and management prioritize veterans and grinders over him.

I hear what you're saying and I somewhat agree.

However, I would argue that in a cap league, everything ultimately comes down to proper cap management. You need to spend and manage your salary cap wisely. Treliving has shown time and again his ability to do that.

Sitting Stajan or Brouwer and giving Jankowski that spot isn't good cap management. Neither is sending either down to Stockton. Good teams manage their cap well. Bad teams give Lucic $6M/year for seven years.

If the team believes Jankowski is a top 6 forward, playing him in a 4th line role isn't going to help his development. He would be better served playing top 6 minutes in Stockton.

When injuries occur, Jankowski will have his chance to come up and play meaningful minutes with the parent club. In the meantime Treliving will continue to work away trying to make the roster better. That might be through a trade or another signing, either way what we can't accuse Treliving of is undue loyalty to veteran players.

[Strange Brew]

I don't see how playing Jankowski in any way adversely impacts the teams cap. The bad cap hits like Stajan and Brouwer are here, whether Jankowski plays or not. Personally I'd have Stajan in the press box and play Jankowski. Glass, Hamilton, Hathaway and Lazar all seem somewhat redundant and don't all need to be on the big club. Brouwer too but stuck with him. Maybe that's what ultimately happens.

[flambers]

Depth chart was already predetermined, which is a really crappy situation for a player like Mark Jankowski...

He made the team for sure,

However it will take an injury, Bennett struggling at Center or a trade to bring him up from the minors.

[Lanny_McDonald]

We always say the Oilers are gonna Oil. Well, the Flames are gonna Flame. They always manage to find some way to keep useless veterans around, well past their expiration date, instead of giving opportunity to young guys who bring enthusiasm to the lineup. I'm not arguing that Jankowski should be in Hamilton's spot, I'm saying he should be in Brouwer or Versteeg's spot on the third line. Push those two down to the 4th line. It is Brouwer or Versteeg who is taking Hamilton's spot, not Jankowski. Janks earned his spot on the third line, plain and simple. That's where he should be, and that makes the Flames a better team.

[camm13]

Originally Posted by New Era

We always say the Oilers are gonna Oil. Well, the Flames are gonna Flame. They always manage to find some way to keep useless veterans around, well past their expiration date, instead of giving opportunity to young guys who bring enthusiasm to the lineup. I'm not arguing that Jankowski should be in Hamilton's spot, I'm saying he should be in Brouwer or Versteeg's spot on the third line. Push those two down to the 4th line. It is Brouwer or Versteeg who is taking Hamilton's spot, not Jankowski. Janks earned his spot on the third line, plain and simple. That's where he should be, and that makes the Flames a better team.

Janko is a centre, and those two are a RWs. Versteeg is an nhl experienced veteran with great skills and was one of the best storylines last year. He's not going to be playing on the 4th line. Has Janko proved in his limited preseason showing that hes a better player than versteeg and is better suited for the 3rd line than versteeg?. No. No he hasn't.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by camm13

Janko is a centre, and those two are a RWs. Versteeg is an nhl experienced veteran with great skills and was one of the best storylines last year. He's not going to be playing on the 4th line. Has Janko proved in his limited preseason showing that hes a better player than versteeg and is better suited for the 3rd line than versteeg?. No. No he hasn't.

Did he show more than Versteeg in preseason? Yes, yes he did. Same with Brouwer, Stajan, Hamilton, and almost every other player on the Flames to be honest. That's kind of the point. Veterans get to come in and do nothing in camp, knowing they have a spot sewn up. A young kid comes in and does everything expected of him, beats out two thirds of the team, and still gets dispatched to the minors. It's frustrating to watch, but it's the Flames way.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Every post I see with: "Freddie Hamilton made it but Jankowski got demoted!" gets passed over by me. This is a silly argument. Freddie has been a pro at not playing. 26 games played last year. Just over 1/4 of the games. In what world would it make sense to have Jankowski take his spot? Why are people crying about not demoting a Freddie Hamilton so that Jankowski can take his spot on the roster? FFS, that is an absurd argument, and one that is both illogical and borne out of sheer impatience. It is like some people want to see Jankowski's name on the roster just to see it, even if it is as the 13th forward who never plays.

Just because there is a player at a certain spot on the roster doesn't mean that player is more important to the Flames or is more deserving of that spot. Players slot differently. People are freaking out because they don't see Jankowski named to the opening night roster, even if it is on the 4th line (or worse!).

Is Jankowski's upside a 4th liner or even a third liner? I argue that he isn't. You aren't going to see Klimchuk, Poirier, Shinkaruk, Mangiapane or Phillips in that spot, are you? Monahan, Bennett, Gaudreau, etc., never had to play 4th line - why does Jankowski? Who is he going to be playing against on that line? Guys like Dorsett in Vancouver...

IMO, Jankowski made the team. He made it. Now it is up to Treliving to make room for him, or wait for an injury (that almost always happens). If the Flames' organization didn't like Jankowski, including Gulutzan, then you would NOT have seen him line up at center with Bennett on his wing for a period or so. The organization is keen to see what he can do, and just like everyone else, was probably fairly impressed with it.

Being named to the opening night roster doesn't mean you 'made it'. FFS, Grossman was named to the opening night roster, and how many fricken games did he play last year?

How about looking back at last year. This was the opening night roster for last year:
https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flam...er/c-282561834

Look how many guys didn't play the full season. Look at how many were traded away. This with the Flames actually being fairly healthy. What are the chances that the Flames experience another fairly healthy season?

The fact of the matter is that Jankowski didn't make it this year right off the bat for a variety of reasons, including:

• This is a more difficult team to make this season. Flames are a deeper and more talented squad than last year.
• Flames are smart not to leave spots wide open for prospects. These prospects we have so much angst over often don't pan out (see Boyd, Dustin, who is now plying his trade in the KHL).
• Just because a prospect makes it, doesn't mean he should immediately be placed on the team. There is a lot of behind the scenes asset management that needs to take place. Flames need time to make room for him.
• Depth is so critical - it is nice knowing that Jankowski can go down and kill it in the AHL in all situations, and be ready to jump back in to help when needed.
• I suspect that Gulutzan has somewhat learned a lesson from last season, and wants to show up in Edmonton with a more veteran lineup that knows the system better, and more than likely wants to show up with some toughness. That Edmonton line up has the potential to steamroll Calgary physically.

Jankowski not starting on day one doesn't mean he hasn't earned it. What it probably means is that the Flames are high on him, and want him competing in real games until they can make room for him on the roster. This is coming from a huge "Jankowski fan boy" who has been defending him from day one (especially on the back-burner) for years now. Yes he is ready, but Treliving isn't a guy (nor should he be) to leave a spot wide-open for someone to take it, knowing that a prospect sometimes falters and suddenly doesn't pan out. That would be asinine. With Jankowski's performance, he is now tasked with trying to do his job - proper asset management - in trying to make room for a prospect that deserves a spot. This was probably something that was told to Jankowski today I would bet.

Afrikkinmen

[Red Slinger]

This Jankowski is a dominant figure, not on the ice but on these forums. For years it seemed like every hockey thread was littered with Jankowski talk regardless of the subject. Now, for a completely different reason, he is once again the lightning rod around here.

This is Jankowski's world, we're just living in it.