How well have the Flames drafted in first rounds? A partial Mark Jankowski retrospective

The Calgary Flames’ selection of Mark Jankowski in the first round of the 2012 NHL Draft was, at the time, somewhat of a curious decision.

It was a bit confusing that the Flames, a team with historically bad luck in the first round, would take a flyer on a lanky kid from Stanstead College who barely fit into the jersey presented to him on the stage.

Far from a sure thing, this was a player who was cut from AAA in Ontario, was playing Canadian high school hockey, and was known to be a “long term project”. What made things worse was that the Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Olli Maatta with the 22nd selection, the pick immediately after Jankowski. Maatta was touted for his strong two-way game and,…