Mark "Fricken" Jankowski (aka The Big Jankowski)

[SuperMatt18]

Or the more reasonable response was that they saw they already had a pretty full Farm System, already had a lot of young first year players in the AHL/ECHL, and realized for his own development it made more sense to be the go-to offensive player on his team playing top line minutes (which he never had done in his first 3 seasons) instead of coming and battling for minutes on the AHL team.

[Fire]

Unless Jankowski is an idiot, I think he would now tell you now that going back for his 4th year was the best thing for him.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Fire

Unless Jankowski is an idiot, I think he would now tell you now that going back for his 4th year was the best thing for him.

I don't really think he's taken much of a step this year. he's playing more minutes with better players, but he's pretty much where he was at the end of last year. The numbers just look better, the play is the same. I think being in the AHL would have seen him take a bigger step in his own game.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I'm just glad that we are worried about him signing here because he has shown so much promise over the last couple of years. Many posters were ready to give up on him.

[neo45]

If we doesn't sign we still get that sweet compensation

[saillias]

Just send Conroy with the jet again the night Janko wins the Frozen 4. Bring Gilmour to Calgary in the jet too, just because. It worked on Gaudreau and Arnold.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I don't really think he's taken much of a step this year. he's playing more minutes with better players, but he's pretty much where he was at the end of last year. The numbers just look better, the play is the same. I think being in the AHL would have seen him take a bigger step in his own game.

????

Hasn't taken much of a step this year? That statement sounds preposterous.

I think it's best for players to have offensive confidence at each level before moving on. This season was huge for his offensive confidence knowing he could dominate at this level.

Now he can move on and try to dominate at the AHL level. It's going to be a big step up. I think moving there last year would have been premature.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

????

Hasn't taken much of a step this year? That statement sounds preposterous.

I think it's best for players to have offensive confidence at each level before moving on. This season was huge for his offensive confidence knowing he could dominate at this level.

Now he can move on and try to dominate at the AHL level. It's going to be a big step up. I think moving there last year would have been premature.

I fail to see how a player needs 4 years of NCAA while his not-rushed age-group peers (Poirier, Maantha, Shinkaruk) are in their second year pro learning the game at a steady pace.

Jankowski finished last season strong and seemed to have figured the NCAA game out. All this year is doing is showing the rest of the world that he's pretty decent. I don't think he's suddenly figuring anything out offensively that he didn't a year ago and I don't think he was any less AHL-ready than most 19-20 year old rookies out of Junior are.

Is he discovering how to score goals? No, he had 13 in 39 as a sophomore. He has 15 in 34 which is a marginal improvement but not an epiphany.

Is he discovering how best to make plays? He's on pace for a few more assists on a better team in a better role, but I'm not seeing him play very differently.

Him playing his senior year isn't hurting him but I'm not convinced it's notably helping him. He would be an AHL rookie right now not unlike Klimchuk. And I say this while I fully support sending Kanzig back and feel Hunter Smith should be playing his overage season in the O. I just personally fail to see the reward out-weigh the risk in Jankowski's case. JMO, feel free to disagree.

If he decides to bolt, I certainly won't agree that making him play his senior year was "right". Not when Hunter Smith is skipping his overage year.

[Calgary4LIfe]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I fail to see how a player needs 4 years of NCAA while his not-rushed age-group peers (Poirier, Maantha, Shinkaruk) are in their second year pro learning the game at a steady pace.

Jankowski finished last season strong and seemed to have figured the NCAA game out. All this year is doing is showing the rest of the world that he's pretty decent. I don't think he's suddenly figuring anything out offensively that he didn't a year ago and I don't think he was any less AHL-ready than most 19-20 year old rookies out of Junior are.

Is he discovering how to score goals? No, he had 13 in 39 as a sophomore. He has 15 in 34 which is a marginal improvement but not an epiphany.

Is he discovering how best to make plays? He's on pace for a few more assists on a better team in a better role, but I'm not seeing him play very differently.

Him playing his senior year isn't hurting him but I'm not convinced it's notably helping him. He would be an AHL rookie right now not unlike Klimchuk. And I say this while I fully support sending Kanzig back and feel Hunter Smith should be playing his overage season in the O. I just personally fail to see the reward out-weigh the risk in Jankowski's case. JMO, feel free to disagree.

If he decides to bolt, I certainly won't agree that making him play his senior year was "right". Not when Hunter Smith is skipping his overage year.

Two things to keep in mind with regards to Jankowski - Poirier was not seen as much of a 'project' at all - definitely was not an 'nhl ready' prospect when drafted, but he was not considered a project pick. Jankowski was very much considered a project pick when drafted, and thus did need more time adjusting.

Secondly, if he did go to the AHL, there would be a reasonable chance that he would not be getting top-line minutes. Some guys - like Smith - are not seen as top 6 players, and having a player like that develop in the bottom 6 in the AHL is not a terrible way to approach it. I would argue that Jankowski was better off being 'the guy' on the NCAA squad, and getting tonnes of ice-time and different opportunities and situations than he probably would have received in the AHL this past season.

It isn't so much that he wasn't ready for the AHL - it is that the NCAA would give him more opportunities in terms of ice-time, and different important situations against the best in his peer group.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

He needed 4 years because he was a beanpole and has needed years to fill out and grow into his body. It helps his confidence to use his size to his advantage now that he is finally starting to be close to filled out and he's playing against college players still. Much better that then having him struggle in the AHL this year and lose all confidence. This guy was taken as a project. I think keeping him at a level until he's physically dominating it is best for his long term confidence and the development of his game. Much better to have him playing in all situations for a top level NCCA program then playing 3rd or 4th line minutes in the AHL IMO. You disagree?

You think it's risky for him to stay in college. I think it would have been risky for him to go to the AHL early.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Calgary4LIfe

Two things to keep in mind with regards to Jankowski - Poirier was not seen as much of a 'project' at all - definitely was not an 'nhl ready' prospect when drafted, but he was not considered a project pick. Jankowski was very much considered a project pick when drafted, and thus did need more time adjusting.

I agree with that but I also think that where he was at physically in April 2015 was a level of a young AHL player.

He needed 4 years because he was a beanpole and has needed years to fill out and grow into his body. It helps his confidence to use his size to his advantage now

He finished last season brimming with confidence in his size.

I think keeping him at a level until he's physically dominating it is best for his long term confidence and the development of his game.

The same could be said for Bennett and Kylington. All players who still need to get stronger and are doing so while developing as rookie pros.

Again, Jankowski finished last season as physically developed as most rookie AHLers. Stockton is a great place to continue to grow physically while playing at a higher level, in a system that lets him use his creativity better. And under contract.

Much better to have him playing in all situations for a top level NCCA program then playing 3rd or 4th line minutes in the AHL IMO. You disagree?

I think playing 68 AHL games (+playoffs?) in a pro environment and a new system would have been better than playing 35 games in the NCAA where he already played well enough in all situations to win a championship as pretty much their best forward. And I think with his talent he would have been a top 6 F on Stockton right now.

It doesn't matter now though. All that matters is him finishing up his season on a high note and getting him signed.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by saillias

Just send Conroy with the jet again the night Janko wins the Frozen 4. Bring Gilmour to Calgary in the jet too, just because. It worked on Gaudreau and Arnold.

If they win the Frozen Four, there won't be anywhere to fly them. The Frozen Four Final is at the same time as the Flames' final game of the season.

[442scotty]

I will be so pissed at the Flames if he does not sign... I'm still annoyed that they messed up with Baertschi and don't even get me started with the stupid trade of Brossoit for Smid !!!

[MrMastodonFarm]

Well this thread has, someway somehow, reached new heights of crazy.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by 442scotty

I will be so pissed at the Flames if he does not sign... I'm still annoyed that they messed up with Baertschi and don't even get me started with the stupid trade of Brossoit for Smid !!!

There was very good reasons not to sign Jankowski last off-season. Brossoit hasn't proven anything yet. Just got lit up by a terrible Blue Jackets team for 6 goals.

[Trailer Fire]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

Well this thread has, someway somehow, reached new heights of crazy.

It's such a crazy roller coaster. I can't wait for the next episode.

[Lanny_McDonald]

They're coming out of the woodwork lately!

[Fire of the Phoenix]

This thread has gotten so crazy I can barely contain myself

[MarkGio]

Here's a theory. Maybe they knew Jankowski would walk upon riding out his 4th year and the compensatory pick was the silver lining.

He's had a pretty slow development curve and he still looks like he has a slow first few steps.

[Racki]

I will admit that I lost sleep over the gaudreau situation. Not even worried this time. Treliving said that he fully expects to get him signed. Good enough for me.