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

[foshizzle11]

Originally Posted by indes

Our highest drafted player ever that has the highest ceiling off any of our players and was drafted as a center?

I'm not sure what's happening on CP but since the draft everyone has been pretty down on Bennett. The guy is a gamer and has the potential to better than both the golden children. (Monahan and Gaudreau)

ya, I agree. Seems strange that there are some comments about him and not all positive.

I think he will be our #1 centre in a couple of years. At least 1A and 1B with Mony.

[FlameZilla]

Originally Posted by indes

Our highest drafted player ever that has the highest ceiling off any of our players and was drafted as a center?

I'm not sure what's happening on CP but since the draft everyone has been pretty down on Bennett. The guy is a gamer and has the potential to better than both the golden children. (Monahan and Gaudreau)

I don't see why someone stating that Bennett will be a LW is indicative of CP being 'down' on Bennett.

I think Bennett will be the best forward on this team within a couple of years, whether he plays C or LW. To be fair, he was listed as "C/LW" on most of his draft profiles & spent plenty of time in the OHL at both positions. If he spends some time at LW to break into the league it hardly prevents him from slotting over to the pivot position when the time is right.

If management feels Bennett's skillset is best suited to the wing so be it. Plenty of good C break into the league on the wing, and at the moment this team is stacked at C.

Let's drink some Feaster Kool-Aid here and imagine, just for a second, that Jankowski lives up to his top 6 C potential: Monahan (6'2"), Jankowski (6'4"), Bennett (6'1"), Backlund (6'0") & Colborne (6'5") will all be vying for top 6 spots. I'd rather have the taller players with better faceoff skills playing C mainly, but having the remaining players filling in on the wing is hardly a bad thing, especially when the main man gets kicked out of the dot.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

If nothing else, I feel like Jankowski's made a statement that he's on track between this strong development camp and his successful frozen four showing.

[Finger Cookin]

It just seems presumptuous to pencil Bennett in as a winger for this season, and his career, based on the last year's playoffs. It seems reasonable to assume he'll continue to play as a center for now. Let's see what shakes out after training camp.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Justin

Stamkos was drafted as a centerman, he plays right wing.

Reemphasizing this, because Stamkos is pretty not too bad.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by New Era

Paging Vulcan and Hackey! Paging Vulcan and Hackey!!!

Had a good chuckle in the development Camp thread when the one post that wasn't complimentary of Jankowski was quickly thanked by Vulcan. Like a moth to a flame, can't help but have a laugh now.

[Brewmaster]

Is it still a possibility for Jankowski to sign with the Flames and play in Stockton this season, or has he committed to the NCAA for his Senior year?

[getbak]

He could sign with the Flames at any time, but based on everything both Treliving and Jankowski have said, he will be going back for his senior year. There's no reason to think that plan has changed (or will).

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Brewmaster

Is it still a possibility for Jankowski to sign with the Flames and play in Stockton this season, or has he committed to the NCAA for his Senior year?

He is going back to college for his last year, however if his season ends early there is a chance he could play late in the season.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Gaskal

I think with how good he is in the dot and his size, he pushes Backlund to wing. So we could roll Backlund - Janko - Frolik

Dat possession tho.

[DoubleF]

I keep reading bits and pieces, so sorry if I mix something up.

I think there were a few factors that kept Janko in the NCAA and it had nothing to do with Janko.

- Janko might be able to captain a team. That's development that's immeasurable in value and something he wouldn't get in Stockton.

- He plays on a college team where many of the go to guys have graduated. He probably won't get the same level of reliance in Stockton.

and a completely random long shot that might be wrong... Treliving might have kept him there so that his progression is slowed enough to allow him to be shielded in an expansion draft.

[Red Menace]

usually in an expansion draft you don't have to expose young players...highly doubt that had anything to do with any decision here.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Red Menace

usually in an expansion draft you don't have to expose young players...highly doubt that had anything to do with any decision here.

I'm wrong then.

I believe 1st and second year pros were exempt in previous drafts, so based on that, unless an expansion draft is 3 years away, not an issue for him.

[polak]

There's the risk that he walks though.

[Goodlad]

Originally Posted by polak

There's the risk that he walks though.

Oh, you

[bax]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Reemphasizing this, because Stamkos is pretty not too bad.

Reemphasizing what?

Stamkos has played the majority of his career as a center

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by polak

There's the risk that he walks though.

Absolutely, and isn't that risk just hitting home how dumb a move this was by Feaster to draft this guy, something I certainly didn't appreciate at the time.

Fair enough to say you went after a long term prospect, but when you know it's going to take much longer to develop, seems as though it becomes a wasted pick because the player is going to have this UFA option to explore if they end up panning out, and why would any player not at least consider that. Or on the flip side, they aren't developing well and aren't a risk to walk, but then who really cares and it was a wasted pick because it isn't panning out.

Got feel that the Jankowski pick, regardless of how he turns out as a player had to one of the main reasons Burke let Feaster walk. Feaster actually seem to do a lot of things right, especially in regards to talent identification and development, but all that good was littered with bone head mistake after bone head mistake all over the place. Things that seem to be getting cleaned up under Burke and Treliving.

[GoJetsGo]

I got the impression in listening to him speak that he's appreciative of what the organization has done for him.

I think he signs after his season, and depending on the timing, might even make his pro debut late in the season just to get a few pro games in.

[saillias]

Our 2009 first rounder played in Swedish whatever league and demanded a trade, threatening to re-enter the draft.

Our 2011 first rounder played in WHL and demanded a trade, threatening to not sign at all and take his ball home to Europe.

We afaik have never had a college player do the Schultzy switcheroo special. I don't see this risk in Jankowski. Treliving doesn't strike me as the type who gets duped by a 21 year old and his agent. The Flames are the ones who seem to have suggested to him to play his senior year.

[theg69]

Holy over-reaction.. I mean it was one thing to proclaim him a bust early on, but quite another to worry about signing him just as he shows some promise.

Mid-late 1st round picks are anything but a sure thing and as someone mentioned earlier, if a player doesn't want to play for you, they don't want to play for you (ie. Tim Erixon).

I would actually be surprised if he doesn't sign with us but why worry about it until the time comes - it shouldn't stop GMs from drafting who THEY feel is the best player available at that time.