The Calgary Flames can now sign the most contentious prospect in recent memory, so should they sign him?
On Friday night Mark Jankowski had his collegiate career ended, and whether Calgary decides to sign him or not, they stand to benefit.
Think back to 2012 NHL Draft, the Calgary Flames had just traded down to the 21st spot and highly-coveted defence man Olli Maatta was still available, yet the Flames ended up going way off the board to select Mark Jankowski.
What just happened? Who is this guy?
Most Flames fans were scratching their heads with the pick, but then GM Feaster proclaimed that Jankowski would be the best player from the draft 10 years from now, something that Feaster probably regretted saying for the rest of his tenure with the Flames.
More from Editorials
- Flames captaincy updates and candidate rankings
- Luck, Goalies & Coaching: Three Questions for the 2023/24 Calgary Flames
- Predicting the Calgary Flames leadership group under Captain Andersson
- The Case for Captain Huberdeau
- Calgary Flames Prospect Countdown: No. 7
It was unfair to Mark Jankowski that management put that amount of hype and burden on a long-term project player, something that hasn’t helped his development.
I for one have always like Jankowski, and have realized this is a player who needed lots of time to fill in his frame and get stronger.
He has done just that.
Over four years at Providence College Jankowski has put on around 35 pounds of muscle and now tips the scales at 200 pounds.
The fact that he played a lot of his college career undersized at 170 pounds and made the jump directly from high-school hockey to college probably affected his learning curve.
So it’s no wonder that once Jankowski started to put on weight, he has started to blossom.
Jankowski has upped his point totals in each of the last four seasons, scoring over a PPG this year with 40 points in 38 games.
Jankowski has also increased his face-off totals to over 50% and has seen his role increase exponentially over the course of his time with Providence, becoming a strong two-way centre-man in the process.
A lot of pundits have criticized his point production by saying they are incredibly underwhelming for a first-round pick who is in their fourth year of college hockey.
But there are two main reasons why his point totals haven’t been eye-popping:
- Providence is a team that rolls four lines, meaning Jankowski gets less ice-time than you would think for a top-line player.
- Providence is also one of the most structured teams in the NCAA meaning there is less room to work with offensively in their systems.
The fact that Mark has frequently been the best player at development camp scrimmages for the Flames is also encouraging.
Don’t forget either that he helped Providence win a NCAA title last year, scoring 4 points in the frozen four tournament including scoring a big goal in the championship game against Jack Eichel’s B.U. Terriers.
Related Story: Calgary Flames Prospects: Emergence of Mark Jankowski
His vision, playmaking, size, speed and two-way capabilities make him an intriguing prospect, even if his ceiling is lower than we thought.
His skills could make him a nice third-line centre behind Monahan and Bennett.
But if he doesn’t sign with Calgary, we get a 2nd round pick in 2017 (51st overall) as compensation.
Having second round picks is great currency, Boone Jenner, John Gibson, and Nikita Kucherov, were all taken in the second round of the 2011 NHL draft.
Not to mention the two Swedish defence man in Andersson and Kylington who we took last year in the 2nd round, who both look like steals early in their careers.
Second round picks were also vital in the Dougie Hamilton trade, so having an extra pick in the future for a player who might not ever make the team is good compensation.
According to Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun, Mark Jankowski was pumped full of fluids, three I.V. bags, after Friday nights double O.T. loss to Minnesota Duluth.
So expect a decision to be made after a few days so that Jankowski can focus on his health before discussing his future with his agent and family, although the smart money would be on him signing with Calgary and getting into a few games with the Stockton Heat.
I for one am optimistic and intrigued to see what Jankwoski can do at the pro-level, once he puts on an additional 10-15 pounds his game could continue to progress.
I have absolutely no idea what he is at the NHL level, but the only way to find out would be to sign and continue developing him.
Next: Expansion Draft Could Help Flames Land A Goalie
But if he doesn’t sign with the Flames, they end up with a second round pick, something that is indeed useful in drafting or trading.
Either way its a no-lose situation for Calgary.