Mark Jankowski

Mark Jankowski (born September 13, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jankowski was selected in the first round, 21st overall, at the 2012 NHL entry draft, by the Calgary Flames. He is the highest selected Canadian high school player in draft history, having played for Stanstead College for two seasons leading to the draft. Jankowski won the Stanley Cup with the Hurricanes in 2026.

Playing career

Amateur Jankowski was a top scorer at the midget AAA level, where he played for the St. Catharines Minor Midget AAA Falcons of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association's South-Central Triple A Hockey League. However, he went unselected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) midget draft as teams were concerned that at five feet, eight inches tall, he was too small to play the top level of junior hockey. He chose to play at Stanstead College, a prep school in Stanstead, Quebec. He played two seasons for Stanstead, scoring 31 goals and 73 points in the 2010–11 high school team's season and 53 goals and 93 points in 57 games in 2011–12. During his second season at Stanstead, Jankowski committed to play college hockey for the Providence Friars. Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, Maine, and Penn State were also interested in his services, but he decided to follow Friars coach Nate Leaman, who had previously shown interest in Jankowski while coaching Union College, to Providence.

During his two seasons in Stanstead, Jankowski quickly gained height, growing to 6'2" tall, while it was his play that caught the attention of scouts. The National Hockey League (NHL)'s Central Scouting Bureau ranked Jankowski as the 43rd best prospect for the 2012 NHL entry draft in its final ranking, an improvement from his 74th place rank in previous reports. Other analysts ranked him higher, including Craig Button of The Sports Network, who placed him 41st. The Calgary Flames selected him in the first round, 21st overall. He is the highest-ever draft pick out of a Canadian high school. The Flames received some criticism for going "off the board" and selecting Jankowski well above his expected draft place, but assistant general manager John Weisbrod stated that while Jankowski's talent was "raw", other teams were certain to select him in the first round if the Flames did not. General manager Jay Feaster argued that Jankowski was one of the most talented players available in the draft.

Professional Jankowski began his professional career on March 30, 2016, signing a two-year entry-level contract with the Flames. The deal began during the 2016–17 season; for the remainder of 2015–16 season, Jankowski played with the Flames' American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat. These games did not count towards his contract, which was slated to expire following the completion of the 2017–18 season. Jankowski was called up by the Flames in November 2016, making his NHL debut against the New York Islanders on November 28, 2016. On November 9, 2017, Jankowski scored his first career NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings in a 6–3 win. On April 7, 2018, the last game of the Flames regular season, Jankowski recorded his first four-goal game in a 7–1 win over the Vegas Golden Knights.

After a largely disappointing 2019–20 season, in which Jankowski was limited to a fourth-line role and contributed with just 5 goals and 7 points in 56 games, he was released by the Flames as a free agent after he was not tendered a qualifying offer to retain his rights on October 8, 2020.

With the following day being the opening of free agency, Jankowski was signed to a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

On September 14, 2021, Jankowski was signed to a professional tryout contract (PTO) by the New Jersey Devils. After attending training camp and participating in their pre-season, Jankowski was released by the Devils without a contract offer. On October 15, 2021, he agreed to begin the 2021–22 season with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, signing a one-year deal with the primary affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. After collecting 5 goals and 12 points through his first 13 games with the Americans, Jankowski was signed to a one-year, $750,000 contract, with the Buffalo Sabres on November 28, 2021.

As a free agent from the Sabres, Jankowski was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 14, 2022. On March 8, 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Predators.

During the 2024–25 season, at the NHL trade deadline, Jankowski was traded by the Predators to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick on March 7, 2025. Jankowski made his Hurricanes debut on March 9 where he would score 2 goals in a 4–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets. Jankowski became the 3rd player to score multiple goals in their Hurricanes debut.

Personal life Jankowski is a native of Dundas, Ontario. His granduncle was Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly and his father, Len, played college hockey with the Cornell Big Red. Jankowski's younger brother David signed an amateur tryout contract with the Calgary Flames in 2018.

Career statistics Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2010–11 Stanstead College Prep 13 5 4 9 10 2 2 1 3 2 2010–11 Stanstead College Que-HS 65 31 42 73 22 — — — — — 2011–12 Stanstead College Prep 13 19 11 30 12 3 3 4 7 0 2011–12 Stanstead College Que-HS 57 53 40 93 34 — — — — — 2012–13 Providence College HE 34 7 11 18 10 — — — — — 2013–14 Providence College HE 39 13 12 25 14 — — — — — 2014–15 Providence College HE 37 8 19 27 14 — — — — — 2015–16 Providence College HE 38 15 25 40 28 — — — — — 2015–16 Stockton Heat AHL 8 2 4 6 0 — — — — — 2016–17 Stockton Heat AHL 64 27 29 56 29 5 1 4 5 0 2016–17 Calgary Flames NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — — 2017–18 Stockton Heat AHL 6 5 3 8 12 — — — — — 2017–18 Calgary Flames NHL 72 17 8 25 33 — — — — — 2018–19 Calgary Flames NHL 79 14 18 32 12 5 0 0 0 0 2019–20 Calgary Flames NHL 56 5 2 7 14 5 0 0 0 0 2020–21 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL 45 4 7 11 6 — — — — — 2021–22 Rochester Americans AHL 32 10 17 27 18 10 6 1 7 2 2021–22 Buffalo Sabres NHL 19 2 3 5 4 — — — — — 2022–23 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 9 5 5 10 2 15 1 7 8 16 2022–23 Nashville Predators NHL 50 7 5 12 18 — — — — — 2023–24 Milwaukee Admirals AHL 40 15 32 47 51 — — — — — 2023–24 Nashville Predators NHL 32 7 8 15 8 6 1 1 2 2 2024–25 Nashville Predators NHL 41 4 5 9 15 — — — — — 2024–25 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 19 8 0 8 18 7 0 1 1 0 2025–26 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 68 11 10 21 16 19 1 4 5 16 NHL totals 482 79 66 145 144 42 2 6 8 18

Awards and honours Award Year RefCollege Hockey East All-Tournament Team 2015 NCAA All-Tournament Team 2015 All-Hockey East First Team 2015–16 AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2015–16 NHL Stanley Cup champion 2026