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

[MissTeeks]

The Flames website had a great article on Jankowski yesterday:

https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/fami...ir/c-293026774

The spry 90-year-old carrot-topped Hall-of-Famer is keeping tabs on his great-nephew.

"I'll bet his dad's walking on air right now,'' laughs Red Kelly, a characteristic Irish twinkle in his voice. "I think that's great.

"I know he's proud. We all are.

"Mark came over a few times to the house with his mom and dad when they were in town. Big boy even then but I bet he's put on some weight and is much stronger now.

"My son" - Conn, who operates a hockey school in Newport Beach, R.I., a 45-minute drive from Providence, where Mark Jankowski played collegiate hockey - "saw him play many times and thought he was a heckuva player. So we'd hear periodically what was happening.

"I heard about his first goal for the Flames the other night. Didn't see it, unfortunately. But I sure did hear about it.

"And two goals Monday, you say? Good for him.

"Talking to Lou Lamoriello of the Leafs, I know he's pretty high on the young man, too."

"It's pretty cool, having the bloodlines I do,'' agrees the Flames' freshman centre. "Those Calgary ties from the days my grandpa played for the Stampeders are really special to me. And obviously, my great-uncle Red.

"My dad, my mom (Rosemary), all those people you mentioned, they're the reason I'm here right now. My parents, I owe them so much. Just their belief in me, that I could play at this level someday, meant so much to actually achieving that dream.

"The support of my whole family, the calming presence, the patience … such a big part of everything I do."

Everyone hereabouts is by now acutely familiar with the Mark Jankowski story, of how the Flames' GM at the time, Jay Feaster, wandered way off the form chart to nab a beanpole high-schooler from Quebec's Stanstead College with the 21st pick in the 2012 draft in Pittsburgh.

Of the wait for maturation as the unproven, unpolished prospect first committed to Providence College, helping the Friars collect the illustrious Frozen Four title in 2015, up to his eye-catching rookie pro season at Stockton in 2016-17.

Of the five-year wait between selection and validation.

"We knew the process of the draft,'' says his dad now. "You come to realize that players, more often than not, don't step right in. You've got Sean (Monahan) and Sam Bennett there, who jumped right in from Day 1. But that's the exception, not the rule.

"Being drafted just means someone thinks you have some talent, that's all.

"I remember the Flames put him through a number of questions at the time. There must've been 50 people in the room. They grilled him, trying to figure out if this kid really had the necessary desire. They did all kinds of research. It was unbelievable, the things they checked on.

"And they came to the conclusion that this kid wants it. He really does."

And an accompanying video:

[868904]

That's pretty cool to practice in the arena that your grandfather played 5 years in and was a star. There's a lot of father - son scenarios like that but grandfathers and grandsons have to be pretty rare.

I'm sure there have been a few chirps to Jagr about playing with and against two different generations of Jankowskies in the Corral.

[---Hatrick---]

What a great act of kindness it was on the fan to arrange that his grandfathers hockey sticks made it to Mark. Usually it's the players that will make a fans day. Tables turned in this situation.
Good on you, who ever you were!

[Robbob]

I think Red pretty much confirms the rumour that the Devils were eyeing Jankowski.

Neat story.

[Steve Bozek]

Originally Posted by ---Hatrick---

What a great act of kindness it was on the fan to arrange that his grandfathers hockey sticks made it to Mark. Usually it's the players that will make a fans day. Tables turned in this situation.
Good on you, who ever you were!

That’s really special. I somehow missed this. Was it in an interview?

Edit: found it in the accompanying video! Sorry, folks.

[PugnaciousIntern]

Huh. Stockton Heat is having a Jankowski bobble-head night on December 9. http://stocktonheat.com/

Obviously must have been organized a while ago. But I wonder who on earth decided at the start of the season that this would be a good idea because he would likely still be in Stockton by December 9?

[Bingo]

Sportnet article on Jankowski here to stay

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/f...like-hes-stay/

[FBI]

245 faceoffs and 49% so far.. This seems pretty dang good for a rookie?

[ForeverFlameFan]

How much do you guys think we are paying him and for how long?

[Party Elephant]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

How much do you guys think we are paying him and for how long?

Give him the Draisaitl deal.

[Fan69]

I think we have our third pair.

Johny, Mernehern.
Tkachuk, Backlund.
Bennett,Janko.

Find that elusive 4th pair and this team is devastating.

Size skill vision shot skating starting to see all of those attribhtes consistently and hes barely 20 games in.

[bubbsy]

I'm curious to see at what stage the Jankowski/Bennett line is looked at more as the #2 line and what implications, if any, that has with what they decide with Backlund.

[Fan69]

Perfect scenario for gulutzen. Run the line playing the best that night. The janko line seems to be generating more scoring lately but isnt as good as backlunds defensively.

I wouldnt be surprised if by seasons end the bennet janko duo was equal in ice time to Baclunds line.

[Roof-Daddy]

Wow Janko.

Big, fast, skilled, can shoot. Looks like he's going to be a possession monster, and very strong two way player as he continues to get used to the NHL level.

Amazing how far he's come.

[bubbsy]

I dunno, Jankowski has long been revered as a very strong defensive player throughout his development. I think he has held his own defensively too so far

[Robbob]

Yeah the 4 years at Providence really groomed his 200 foot game.

[Geeoff]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

I'm curious to see at what stage the Jankowski/Bennett line is looked at more as the #2 line and what implications, if any, that has with what they decide with Backlund.

I don't think this is a team that can afford to lose talented forwards, regardless of how much Jankowski improves. Janko could become as good as Crosby and the Flames would still need Backlund.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Geeoff

I don't think this is a team that can afford to lose talented forwards, regardless of how much Jankowski improves. Janko could become as good as Crosby and the Flames would still need Backlund.

In a cap world the key is to find the right balance between “needs” and “costs.”

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

In a cap world the key is to find the right balance between “needs” and “costs.”

As far as I am concerned, the following players should not be let go of:


Gaudreau
Monahan
Ferland
Backlund
Tkachuk
Bennett
Jankowski
Giordano
Brodie
Hamilton


We have to make our cap work around this group. If it means trading a Stone/Hamonic here or a Frolik there, or buying out Brouwer, you do it.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by fan69

i think we have our third pair.

Johny, mernehern.
frolik backlund.
Bennett,janko.

Find that elusive 4th pair and this team is devastating.

Size skill vision shot skating starting to see all of those attribhtes consistently and hes barely 20 games in.

fyp