Johnny Gaudreau: 2015/16 expectations?

[L13]

More potential offensively, maybe. Defensively it's pretty hard to be better than Backlund unless you're a Selke candidate (the only thing Janko would have on him is bigger reach).

But remember we're talking about a kid who is hitting a point-per-game in the NCAA only by year four of his tenure there. Does he look impressive and toolsy when he's making a sweet pass or roofing the puck? Sure. Does that mean anything at the NHL level? Not really. Joe Colborne is a great example of a player who looks skilled but will never be more than a bottom sixer (and not even a great one), and you can draw a lot of parallels between him and Jankowski.

I want Jankowski to succeed, and it would be lovely if he was the exception to the rule that resulted in him being the Flames' Blake Wheeler, but colour me sceptical that he'll be an impact NHLer.

Janko's defensive game will be elite. Book it. He's been playing cerebral two-way hockey for three years now. Sure, he has great hands and an underrated shot, but it's his intelligence and positional game that elevate him as a prospect, not the occasional highlight pass.

(By the way, it's kinda funny that Gaudreau has shut up the naysayers so completely that we need to drag up another controversial Flames prospect to keep the conversation going.)

But I second the poster who said Janko is Calgary's best prospect. I'd qualify that and say Calgary's best skater outside of the NHL, because Gillies is probably their most valuable asset right now, but Janko has tons of potential.

I'm also becoming less and less sure Bennett will be a centre the more he plays on the wing, but that's a whole other can of worms.

 

[DJJones]

Janko's defensive game will be elite. Book it. He's been playing cerebral two-way hockey for three years now. Sure, he has great hands and an underrated shot, but it's his intelligence and positional game that elevate him as a prospect, not the occasional highlight pass.

(By the way, it's kinda funny that Gaudreau has shut up the naysayers so completely that we need to drag up another controversial Flames prospect to keep the conversation going.)

But I second the poster who said Janko is Calgary's best prospect. I'd qualify that and say Calgary's best skater outside of the NHL, because Gillies is probably their most valuable asset right now, but Janko has tons of potential.

I'm also becoming less and less sure Bennett will be a centre the more he plays on the wing, but that's a whole other can of worms.

I kind of like the idea of Bennett and Granlund splitting center duties. Granlund playing like a legit 2nd liner solves so many problems for Calgary.

 

[McFlyingV]

Janko's defensive game will be elite. Book it. He's been playing cerebral two-way hockey for three years now. Sure, he has great hands and an underrated shot, but it's his intelligence and positional game that elevate him as a prospect, not the occasional highlight pass.

(By the way, it's kinda funny that Gaudreau has shut up the naysayers so completely that we need to drag up another controversial Flames prospect to keep the conversation going.)

But I second the poster who said Janko is Calgary's best prospect. I'd qualify that and say Calgary's best skater outside of the NHL, because Gillies is probably their most valuable asset right now, but Janko has tons of potential.

I'm also becoming less and less sure Bennett will be a centre the more he plays on the wing, but that's a whole other can of worms.

There was no dragging up. A flame poster commented on him (although I'm not entirely sure he was being serious with what he said).

As for Gaudreau I predicted he'd get around 70 points this year and that Monahan and especially Hudler would regress. I didn't really think of the 3 on 3 and Johnny has been simply amazing in it which might make him more likely to top what I predicted. We'll see if he can keep it up and break 80.

 

[L13]

There was no dragging up. A flame poster commented on him (although I'm not entirely sure he was being serious with what he said).

As for Gaudreau I predicted he'd get around 70 points this year and that Monahan and especially Hudler would regress. I didn't really think of the 3 on 3 and Johnny has been simply amazing in it which might make him more likely to top what I predicted. We'll see if he can keep it up and break 80.

That comment wasn't meant as a jab at you or anyone in particular. It's just that Janko is a uniquely polarising subject among Flames fans and it's funny to me how sooner or later any discussion about young players in the Flames system turns to him and people (mostly Flames fans) pull out the knives.

I would be very happy if Johnny kept up his current scoring rate throughout the season and ended up with 80+ points. That would be amazing. I was kinda hoping for a ~75-point season from him, but it's starting to look like he could exceed that.

 

[King In The North]

Yeah people forget Jank was used in a top shutdown role in their championship run (if I'm not mistaken)

 

[Kranix]

What is this like Jankowski's sixth year in college? Has he even been to a Flames camp?

 

[L13]

What is this like Jankowski's sixth year in college? Has he even been to a Flames camp?

It is his fourth and final year in college and yes, he has been to development camp. He was the best player at this year's development camp together with Sam Bennett.

 

[King In The North]

What is this like Jankowski's sixth year in college? Has he even been to a Flames camp?

You know you can only for four years right? And college prospects can't attend the regular NHL training camps?

 

[Volica]

You know you can only for four years right? And college prospects can't attend the regular NHL training camps?

Who cares about rules bro. He's attending his 6th year in college and he's never been invited to camp because he's not good enough.

 

[UnrefinedCrude]

You know you can only for four years right? And college prospects can't attend the regular NHL training camps?

Let's get back to the love-in for current phenom Johnny Gaudreau, and save the Jankowski conversation until he shows his fface at the pro level.

I think Gaudreau has exceeded the expectations of even his most ardent supporters.

hasn't peaked yet either, IMO.

 

[Reinhart]

Who cares about rules bro. He's attending his 6th year in college and he's never been invited to camp because he's not good enough.

He is also 29 years old now and time is running out, but at least he is the best prospect chosen in 2012 that is not in the NHL.

 

[Zirakzigil]

JG shouldn't be allowed to play in OT, it's unfair to everyone else. That pass tonight was sick.

 

[Wayne Primeau]

I mean seriously - of the Flames’ 8 OT wins, he has points on, what, 6 of the winning goals? Unbelievable.

 

[Woodtkachuk]

Johnny overtimmme

 

[madmike77]

Should change his name to Johnny Overtime.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Johnny Clutch.

 

[OvermanKingGainer]

Johnny "is 3-on-3 even considered" Hockey

 

[Ainec]

Johnny Gautisbehere

 

[Boomstick]

If the 2011 draft got redone today I wonder where Johnny would go. He was 104th overall in the 4th round.

 

[CgyFlamesftw]

If the 2011 draft got redone today I wonder where Johnny would go. He was 104th overall in the 4th round.

First without a doubt.

 

[Johnny GODreau]

If the 2011 draft got redone today I wonder where Johnny would go. He was 104th overall in the 4th round.

Maybe 103rd in the 4th round. Maybe.

 

[King In The North]

Top 3 given he's proved he can overcome his size.

 

[Ainec]

top 2 behind Baertschi

 

[Pizza the Hutt]

Johnny "let's see him do that in the NHL" Gaudreau

aka

Johnny "let's see him do that against REAL d-men" Gaudreau

aka

Johnny "let's see him do that all year" Gaudreau

aka

Johnny "let's see him do that again next year" Gaudreau

shall now be referred to as:

"Johnny "that's not even real hockey" Gaudreau.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

If the 2011 draft got redone today I wonder where Johnny would go. He was 104th overall in the 4th round.

#1 no doubt in my mind.