C/LW Mark Jankowski
Back to drafted prospects that have completed their senior year in the NCAA. How about Providence forward Mark Jankowski?
No matter how well he thought his pre-draft interviews went, we can be sure that not even Jankowski himself expected to be drafted in the first round at the 2012 NHL Draft. A tall, lanky centre at 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, he was a project, not a blue-chip prospect. Only the Flames, or rather ex-GM Jay Feaster, thought the Canadian high school player was worth their 21st-overall selection.
But, he developed well at Providence College. As Jankowski told Sportsnet, he is now well above his draft weight.
"“Getting bigger and stronger is obviously a big thing I’ve worked on all summer and with our strength coach,” said Jankowski, who is on a seven-game point streak. Getting to 220 pounds is doable – I want to keep getting bigger and stronger,” he said. “Going into development camp I’d like to be 205 pounds and then training camp 210.”"
A 6-foot-3, 210-pound centre/winger? That sounds better.
Jankowski has 43 goals and 110 points in 147 career NCAA games. His best season was his senior year with 15 goals and 40 points in 37 contests.
According to Sportsnet, the Flames are confident they can sign Jankowski. However, the 21-year-old will get to pick his destination and there will be more than a handful of teams interested in signing him. Jay Feaster, the person who wanted Jankowski more than anyone, is gone — so any other franchise will be just as good for him now.
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