[News] With the 21st overall pick Flames select C Mark Jankowski

[Heavy Jack]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

wow somehow you think that 3 years down the road he has made sufficient progress to think that he is tracking to be .... wait for it ..... Joe Nieuwendyk!!!!

If the kid is Joe freakin Nieuwendyk and is a UFA August 2016 why in the world do you think he would sign with the Flames?


If he is on his way to being Joe then he obviously should be ahead of Bennett because not likely that Bennett (or Gaudreau) is going to have a 1200+ game ppg career like Joe and Jankowski.

I can see how you have him ranked higher than Ferland who was a top player for the Flames in a NHL playoff series... the first series in 10 years that they won. Ferland is not Nieuwendyk.

Before Joe Nieuwendyk became Joe Nieuwendyk NHL phenom didn't he just sit in an unknown category at the NHL level with the potential to be someone like of before he was drafted??? Its why they are called prospects, because they have the potential to become a player of that caliber if all their attributes that make them good players peak at just the right time. For some players, like Jankowski, they take longer to develop, what's the big deal if Janko plays his 4th year in college and in a bigger role??? Does it harm his potential to become an NHL regular?? No. Is a Joe Nieuwendyk progression unlikely?? Yes. Is it still possible?? Yes. We will have a great idea of what Janko is when he plays a healthy sample size at the NHL level, lets allow him to get there first though. After watching him finish strong this year and go on to have a great frozen four tourney to cap it off with a trophy while being a significant piece whats not to like about his progression to this point???

[kehatch]

Nieuwendyk was doing what almost all top forward prospects were doing. He was showing significant growth from season to season, leading his team in scoring by a wide margin, and giving people reasons to be excited.

Let me ask people this. Why do you think Jankowski is still a good prospect? The scouting reports I have read are mixed. His offensive production is well under what you would expect of a top forward prospect. There has been very little in the way if actual offensive progress despite increased ice time and responsibilities.

It seems like a lot of hope and could bes and not a lot of substance for people that are supporting this prospect. Which is fine I guess. Except that many of those people are ultra defensive and down right aggressive against anyone that has something negative to say about the player or pick.

It's not an agenda. If Jankowski was progressing most of us would acknowledge that. It isn't out fault that isn't the case.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Let me ask people this. Why do you think Jankowski is still a good prospect?

Only two months ago, Jankowski's team (which is also Gillies' and Gilmour's team) was on National TV for two games a few weeks ago, as their team was in the NCAA Frozen Four (A pretty high level of play). For once we actually got to see the kid play hockey (in huge, elimination playoff games). Here are some comments by CP members, from those threads as they watched the games:

Providence vs Nebraska-Omaha, National Semi-Final

Originally Posted by getbak

That lineup card is a good reminder of how young Jankowski actually still is.

He's in his third year of college and there are still only three players on the team younger than he is, and only one of those is more than a year younger.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jankowski with a nice feed off the boards behind the net to Mingoia but Omaha saves it

Originally Posted by AC

Just tuned in, huge defensive play by Janko to dive and break up a pass.

Originally Posted by cannon7

To think some think Janks is a bust...

Originally Posted by MyFlamesFirst

Janko still looks like he has chicken legs out there(skinny), but from what I have seen it looks like he plays a very mature game.

Originally Posted by dammage79

So Jankowski's good at faceoffs.

Originally Posted by dammage79

Silky move by Janko there on the zone entry.

Originally Posted by MyFlamesFirst

OmG! !!! Yes absolute beauty by Janko!!!

Originally Posted by sureLoss

What a shift by Jankowski!

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Kid can play. Hope we sign him when his season ends

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Jankowski adding a calmness, a confidence, that I haven't seen before.

Originally Posted by getbak

"Starting to see why this kid was a first round pick." - (Barry) Melrose on Jankowski

Somewhere, Feaster is saying, "I told you so."

Originally Posted by AC

Jankowski's goal:

Link
https://gfycat.com/PettyGoldenHarrier

Originally Posted by getbak

Mark Jankowski, crushing the Corsi so far...



He'll never fit on the Flames.

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Today's game is a big reason why you have to not look at stats but actually watch the player play in order to see how he's doing. Janko is a good player.

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

ho hum, another important defensive face off win for Jankowski.

7/9 in the dot.

Originally Posted by Me

(The announcers) just keep showering Mark Jankowski with praise

Originally Posted by New Era

Jankowski with a sick pass.

Originally Posted by dammage79

Wow what a pass by Jankowski on the goal!! Wow wow.

Originally Posted by dieHARDflameZ

Hmmm nice play and beautiful pass by Jankowski for the goal!

How some posters continue to write him off prior to him even turning pro is beyond me... The kid can play, plain and simple.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jankowski assist:


Link

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=145999

Providence vs Boston University(Brandon Hickey/Jack Eichel's team), National Championship Game:

Originally Posted by sureLoss

BU has taken over this game

Originally Posted by getbak

Jankowski beats Eichel clean on the face off.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

nice pass by Jankowski

Originally Posted by Me

Jankowski's teamates NEED to finish those kind of passes.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Jankowski with a nice defensive play on Eichel

Originally Posted by PugnaciousIntern

Janko PPG! Great shift.

Originally Posted by mile

Mark Jankowski. Wow.

He's looked very good again today.

Originally Posted by Caboose

Nice poise shown by Jankowski that whole shift. Very calm and composed when handling the puck.

Originally Posted by Dime_On_Flames

Mark "big game" Jankowski!

Originally Posted by getbak

I hope everyone who has been calling Jankowski a bust has been watching the Frozen Four.

Originally Posted by AC

Janko's tying goal

Link
http://gfycat.com/WeightyBriskAstrangiacoral

Originally Posted by CgyFlamesftw

If Janko turns into something as a pro we could be the deepest team down the middle in few years time.

Originally Posted by Scornfire

dear god, just keep Janko out there for the faceoffs please, the rest of their centers are pathetic

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Providence's other centers, Accari and Mauermann have been bad this game

^The Bruins signed Acciari to an ELC last week, btw.

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Another important defensive play by Jankowski. steals the puck in the corner and skates it out.

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Janko getting praise on his wrist shot

Originally Posted by Righteous1

time to triple shift janko

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=146094

Does that sound like a player who isn't a good prospect?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by kehatch

Let me ask people this. Why do you think Jankowski is still a good prospect?

-Speed
-Skating
-Size
-Skill

Very good two-way game, his defensive game and defensive positioning are at a high level. He knows where to be and how to get there effectively. Good board work that will get better if he continues to get stronger.

He's not as strong overall as you'd like but I'd be wary of labelling him as soft like in his junior season. His size and hockey smarts alone make could make him an NHL player.

Has scored some big goals over the past couple years, points in the final minutes and in OT tend to ring louder and are taken note of. He hasn't had a lot of big games but he's shown the ability to raise his game when it matters most, another good trait. 3 points in the final two games of the season, named to the NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team for those final games.

My main problem with Mark is offensively. He hasn't seem to found that 2nd gear with yet. He'll get a point here, a point there, maybe a two pointer a couple games later. He has had 1 three point game since entering college, hasn't had those big games that really pump up the numbers. The Friars had a game earlier in the new year where they scored 10 goals, Jankowski had zero points.

We'll see what happens this year, bigger turnover in roster, especially up front will open up doors for him offensively.

Even if he doesn't though, I think he's on pace to become an NHL'er. It's not a guarantee, the AHL might be a big eye opener but I think Jankowski has a good shot at a good long career. His hockey smarts and size alone could get him there. His reach and wing span and the way he uses that on defensive plays was truly impressive last year, especially in the Frozen Four where he saved a couple goals by himself. sureLoss had a couple posts pointing that out in the game thread.

So yeah, there is that.

As for your final comment.. well Jankowski is progressing, he isn't putting up the numbers you'd want to see but he is certainly progressing. If you'd been watching games from his first year to second year to third year you'd 100% see that. The "aggression" you speak to stems from guys saying they haven't seen progression when they literally haven't seen anything.

Here we are.

[oldschoolcalgary]

janko had a solid tournament, no question.

before that tournament however, he had a tepid regular season...

the jury is still out on him and I am we don't know which is the 'real' jankowski is...

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

before that tournament however, he had a tepid regular season...

Funny how we never got to watch that "tepid" regular season, where he increased his assist production by 67%.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Saying his Frozen Four was merely "solid" is telling.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Saying his Frozen Four was merely "solid" is telling.

Especially coming from someone who's been pumping "9 points in 34 RS games" + 25 points in 39 AHL games" Teuvo Teravainen

"the jury is still out on him and I am we don't know which is the 'real' TT is..."

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Especially coming from someone who's been pumping "9 points in 34 RS games" + 25 points in 39 AHL games" Teuvo Teravainen

"the jury is still out on him and I am we don't know which is the 'real' TT is..."

Yeah Meh, I honestly don't care about that. What I find interesting is what an uphill battle this kid has to impress the guys who seemingly have their mind made up already. It's like pulling teeth.

Solid is about as conservative as assessment of his Frozen Four as it gets.

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

janko had a solid tournament, no question.

And when you say solid you mean tournament all star? So when a guy in the NHL is named to the first team all star squad, he just had a 'solid' year.

Get a grip.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by New Era

And when you say solid you mean tournament all star?

16 of 59 teams were in the NCAA Tournament from across the states.
Each team probably has at least 12 forwards, 6D, and a goaltender, and most likely way more than that. Still, that means there were 192 Forwards in the tournament.


This was the NCAA-All Tournament Team

F Jack Eichel
F Mark Jankowski
F Ahti Oksanen (Jack Eichel's linemate)
D Matt Grzelcyk (Bruins prospect)
D Anthony Florentino (Sabres prospect)
G Jon Gillies (Flames prospect)

One of three forwards left out of 192, is just "solid". One of six players, three others of whom are solid, drafted prospects. the fourth is probably the most elite talent ever to play NCAA Hockey, and the fifth of whom was riding the coattails of that completely elite talent, but 20 year old Jankowski's not still a good prospect.

[Steve Bozek]

Like many, I was impressed with his performance in the Frozen 4.
To help bring the focus back to the prospect, does anyone know if he's going to attend the prospect camp in July? He attended last year but couldn't participate in scrimmages, etc. because of an injury, IIRC.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Steve Bozek

Like many, I was impressed with his performance in the Frozen 4.
To help bring the focus back to the prospect, does anyone know if he's going to attend the prospect camp in July? He attended last year but couldn't participate in scrimmages, etc. because of an injury, IIRC.

He hasn't missed a prospect camp yet, so I don't see why he would miss this year.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Especially coming from someone who's been pumping "9 points in 34 RS games" + 25 points in 39 AHL games" Teuvo Teravainen

"the jury is still out on him and I am we don't know which is the 'real' TT is..."

Originally Posted by New Era

And when you say solid you mean tournament all star? So when a guy in the NHL is named to the first team all star squad, he just had a 'solid' year.

Get a grip.

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Funny how we never got to watch that "tepid" regular season, where he increased his assist production by 67%.

aaaand so it goes...

its funny to me that people get called out for having a middling opinion on "The Great Jankowski"

sorry if I don't pump the tires of a kid whose stats aren't particularly great in the NCAA, and will invariably dip once he gets to the next level.

you guys have just as big of an agenda as the people you criticize from your pulpit.

[Hackey]

http://www.eliteprospects.com/awards...rnament%20Team

Good for him for making it. It's better than not making it. It's progression. Based on that list I'm not jumping for joy either though.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

aaaand so it goes...

its funny to me that people get called out for having a middling opinion on "The Great Jankowski"

sorry if I don't pump the tires of a kid whose stats aren't particularly great in the NCAA, and will invariably dip once he gets to the next level.

you guys have just as big of an agenda as the people you criticize from your pulpit.

Not surprisingly, you missed the point.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by Hackey

http://www.eliteprospects.com/awards...rnament%20Team

Good for him for making it. It's better than not making it. It's progression. Based on that list I'm not jumping for joy either though.

careful Hackey, people will jump down your throat for being a contrarian...

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Hackey

http://www.eliteprospects.com/awards...rnament%20Team

Good for him for making it. It's better than not making it. It's progression. Based on that list I'm not jumping for joy either though.

As did you I see.

[oldschoolcalgary]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Especially coming from someone who's been pumping "9 points in 34 RS games" + 25 points in 39 AHL games" Teuvo Teravainen

"the jury is still out on him and I am we don't know which is the 'real' TT is..."

that is true, we don't know whether TT is the real deal.

big difference though: he's putting up points in the NHL against men, not the NCAA vs kids.

not too shabby for a kid three days younger than Janko

but i suppose you'd still choose Janko over TT right?

smh

[Hackey]

Originally Posted by oldschoolcalgary

careful Hackey, people will jump down your throat for being a contrarian...

It was the exact same way with Sven. People made every excuse in the book with him and if you disagreed in the slightest the fan club comes at you.