Calgary Flames: Somewhere out there, Jay Feaster is pleased

With Mark Jankowski’s three goals in two games, former Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster is sitting somewhere on a beach right now smiling to himself.

After the 2012 NHL Entry Level Draft, nobody quite knew what the future would hold for the Calgary Flames first round draft pick, Mark Jankowski. Nobody quite predicted his first goal would come in 2017, bouncing off his leg, and assisted by Jaromir Jagr. But we’ll get to that.

After taken at the 21st overall pick in 2012, it was somewhat confusing seeing how Jankowski wasn’t projected at being drafted until around the middle of the second round. But Jay Feaster always saw a lot of potential in him – more than anybody had.

After not getting a chance at his first ever NHL game last season, and only playing in one game last season, he and the Flames had to remain patient with him. And he always had a good mindset when he continued to wait for his shot.

Related Story: Mark Jankowski recalled

Via Calgary Flames:

"“If you feel sorry for yourself, you just get in your own head, not in a good way, and wind up doing yourself way more harm than good.“Obviously I was frustrated when it happened because I thought I’d had a good camp.“But my goal as soon as I found out I was being sent down was to work on what they told me to and do everything I possibly could to be back up top as soon as possible. That was the only thing on my mind.”“That’s part of it, right?” says Flames’ GM Brad Treliving. “That’s what you’re supposed to do: Go down and play well. Some guys don’t, they’re maybe feeling a little sorry for themselves, then they stay down for a while and wonder why.“An opportunity has opened up and by his play during camp and the start of the season (in Stockton), his number gets called.“It’s a good lesson to everybody that this is how you do it.”"

So far this season, Janko has played in nine games. Him centring Sam Bennett seemed to work out well for both of them. Bennett was performing better on the wing and Jankowski seemed to fit right in. And while they were doing decently, they weren’t generating points. Something the Flames desperately needed – secondary scoring.

It wasn’t until this past Thursday against the Detroit Red Wings that Mark Jankowski finally got his first ever NHL point and his first ever NHL goal. And it was assisted by none other than the legendary Jaromir Jagr. Imagine telling this story to your kids.

Then the next game came and what does Jankowski do this time? Score two more. In two games, he had three goals and one assist.

Jankowski has now passed and tied some players taken in the first round of the 2012 Draft in goals now.

If we go back starting from 2012-13, Jankowski is now tied for fifth in goals-per-game among all players drafted in the 2012 Draft with 0.30. Given he has only played in ten games, but let’s hope this is a tell-tale sign of what’s potential to come. Fun fact: the player in first is Patrick Sieloff.

Next: Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan: Dynamic duo

All I know is that somewhere out there, Jay Feaster is laying back in a chair with a cold drink in his hand smiling to himself.