The Buffalo Sabres have several sensational prospects showing their prowess over in Rochester.
It’s only a matter of time before Buffalo Sabres prospects Jack Quinn, J.J. Peterka, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen play full-time at the NHL level. Each have tasted the NHL game with Quinn and Peterka putting on respectable performances in cameos and Luukkonen displaying immense potential at goaltender.
But there is one Rochester American who has put the AHL on notice since the Sabres waived and reverted him back to the minors. That prospect is Mark Jankowski, who has quickly evolved into one of the Amerks top skaters.
Buffalo Sabres prospect Mark Jankowski deserves a return to the NHL
Any time you have a former first-round pick, even one riding the bust label, within your organization, they deserve to be a top priority. Another team drafted them in the first round for a reason and Jankowski, the 21st overall pick of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, is no exception.
Still just 27, Jankowski has a lot of hockey left in him. And while the Sabres continue to get younger, there is no way they need to put him onto a scoring line. It’s not the kind of player he is.
But, his recent performances in Rochester show the Sabres need to seriously consider bringing the center back. Jankowski played well in 19 games with the Sabres, logging a 14.3% shooting percentage and winning 48% of his face-offs. He committed just 10 giveaways and held a +/- of 2.
Jankowski appeared in 13 games earlier this season with the Amerks before the Sabres recalled him to the NHL level. In those 13 games, he logged 12 points, including five goals and seven assists.
Upon returning to Rochester, Jankowski became the third man on a dangerous trio that included Peterka and Quinn. They showed off their prowess in back-to-back wins versus the Cleveland Monsters.
In those two games, Jankowski sunk a game-winner with 16 seconds to go in overtime in a 6-5 win on March 19th. The trio of Jankowski-Peterka-Quinn logged 13 total points over the two-game set that saw the Amerks score 11 goals.
The Amerks return to action tonight in a road matchup against the Syracuse Crunch. If Jankowski continues to be a force on offense, the Sabres need to consider granting him more playing time at the NHL level..
(Statistics provided by Amerks.com and Hockey-Reference)