Calgary Flames Monday Roundtable: Preseason/training camp

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NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 28, 2016: (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Question 1: Who’s been the player you’ve been impressed by the most?

Jonathan Boulanger

Mark Jankowski hands down. Johnny Gaudreau‘s been amazing, but come on, it’s Johnny. Jankowski has shown me and the organization that he belongs in the NHL. After the game against the Arizona Coyotes, I heard Sportsnet The Fan 960 broadcaster Derek Wills say that Jankowski should look at getting a permanent place here in Calgary and I agree with him 100%. It’s not just the goals that are impressive, it’s his puck protection, high hockey IQ, and his surprisingly (at least to me) remarkable defensive play. He also looks pretty darn good on the powerplay even though it’s just preseason. Call me crazy but I think this kid has 2nd line centre and 25 goal potential.

Ian Gustafson

Mark Jankowski has surprised me the most because nobody expected him to do what he is accomplishing right now. Three goals in three games is pretty impressive for a kid who didn’t score a goal in three games for the Calgary Flames last season. Let’s hope the 2012 first round pick is finally developing into a full-time NHL centre.

Tom Oppolzer

Juuso Valimaki. He’s an 18-year-old defenseman who has almost pushed his way to a spot in the opening night lineup. That’s just not something you see very often. Since he was drafted in June he’s played around 10 high-level games (WJCSS, Penticton Tournament, and pre-season) and he hasn’t had a bad game yet. Even if he doesn’t end up making the opening night lineup, this is a player who’s going to be very good for the Calgary Flames in two years at the latest.

Benjamin Prokopy

Ryan Lomberg. I’d be lying if I said that I had ANY idea who this kid was before the start of training camp. But his performance against the Vancouver Canucks was the most dynamic part of an otherwise marginal game. He was hitting. He was relentless in front of the net. And, for that, he was rewarded with a goal. Unfortunately, I don’t think Lomberg will make the final cut. There simply may not be any room for him. But I do hope he gets at least one more start before the season begins.

Honourable mention goes to Sam Bennett and Mark Jankowski. They’ve been great. But both of them are expected to be great. Lomberg came from out of nowhere.

Dan Raicevich

Mark Jankowski, by far. He has been making plays on the puck every time he touches it. As of today, he leads the team in goals scored so far. He has been impressive. Rasmus Andersson has impressed me as well, that boy can move the puck well that is for sure. His hockey IQ seems sky high to me, which is something you cannot teach.

Ramina Shlah

Definitely been Mark Jankowski. I was definitely one of those people who kind of thought Janko was a dud – that the Calgary Flames may have made somewhat of a mistake when they drafted him in the first round in 2012. He’s been one of the best players in preseason this year, and he’d fit well on a third line.

I also thought Tanner Glass had been quite good, to be in honest, and I never thought I’d say that. When the Calgary Flames signed him on a PTO, I was thinking, “Oh boy, we better not have another Nicklas Grossmann mishap.”

But he’s been smart about his physicality in his game and he hasn’t been making mistakes like I thought he would. That being said, I’m not saying he’s been one of the best players on the ice. I was just pleasantly surprised with him. If the Flames don’t sign him, I won’t cry over it. But if they do, I won’t be totally upset either.

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