Flames Top 25 Under 25: #9 - Mark Jankowski

#9 - Mark Jankowski

Position: Centre

Age: 24

Team: Calgary Flames (NHL)

Drafted in 2012, Round 1, Pick 21

Last Year’s Ranking: #6

At 24 years old, Mark Jankowski just wrapped up his second full NHL season. The once controversial 21st overall pick of the 2012 NHL draft, Jankowski improved on a solid rookie season. He missed just three games, serving as the Flames #3 center. Jankowski played almost exclusively with Sam Bennett and the departed James Neal, two players who struggled with offense most of the season. Despite that, Jankowski managed a solid 14 goals and 32 points.

Where Jankowski found true value, was the penalty kill. He finished second in the NHL (tied with Anthony Cirelli of the Lightning) with 5 shorthanded goals, and also second with 8 shorthanded points (second to Michael Grabner in both categories). Incredibly, Jankowski was on the ice for 12 Flames shorthanded goals, while only allowing 15 powerplay goals, in over 150 minutes of shorthanded time.

Since he’s likely to receive at least one new winger this season, it will be interesting to see if Jankowski’s game changes for the better or worse. Regardless, Jankowski has turned himself into a valuable member of the Flames, and needs a strong season entering another arbitration RFA session.