Calgary Flames Select Mark Jankowski In First Round

Ranked 43rd by TSN, 36th by the Hockey Prospectus, and 14th overall by Craig Button but picked 21st overall by the Calgary Flames: Mark Jankowski.  While many thought a goalie would be on the horizon for the Calgary Flames (if you follow their history, it does make sense) but really Jankowski might be the best option for the Flames in the long run.  Why?

1. The Calgary Flames are stacked defensively.  Not the greatest defensive parings out there, but there’s enough to last them for a few seasons until more stay at home defense men make their way into the draft class.
2. Players like Olli Jokinen, Matt Stajan, and Lance Bouma can’t carry the team: they won’t be around long enough to carry the team and don’t have the talent to carry the team.  The youth that the Flames currently have will help move them forward, but it’s not enough.  The Calgary Flames need to keep building on what they have going.
3. At 17 years old, Jankowski is a project for the Calgary Flames.  He’s not someone they are going to be able to force into the line up.  At the start of the season in October, he will have been 18 for only a few days.  You can’t ice a guy that small and that inexpereince in the NHL.  This gives the Flames a long term goal, something to work on, someone to base future selections off of.
4. I have faith.  The Calgary Flames might not be the best at drafting, but this time around, they have a new coaching staff to push and shape these kids into something more than “Calgary Flames Draft Busts”.

The Calgary Flames have a big day ahead of them tomorrow.  While they went “off the list” tonight, I think tomorrow’s picks will be a little more conservative, more in tune with everyone else’s rankings.   Then again, what do I know?  I’m just some crazy blogger holed up in the hotel counting down the minutes until day two starts.  Will the Calgary Flames see success or not?  All I know is that I am excited for more prospects tomorrow.

Go Flames Go!