Mark Jankowski Bio
Mark Jankowski is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays the centre position for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 21st overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Jankowski is the highest-drafted Canadian high school player in NHL history. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 205 pounds, he brings size and a versatile two-way game to his clubs. After several seasons bouncing between organizations, he joined the Hurricanes in March 2025 and quickly made an impact.
Early Life and Background
Mark Jankowski was born on September 13, 1994, in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up in nearby Dundas, Ontario. He developed his game at the midget AAA level with the St. Catharines Minor Midget AAA Falcons of the Ontario Minor Hockey Association’s South-Central Triple A Hockey League, where he served as a top scorer. Despite his offensive success, he went unselected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) midget draft, with teams concerned that his five-foot-eight frame at the time was too small for top-level junior hockey.
Looking for a path that would allow him to grow as both a player and a person, Jankowski enrolled at Stanstead College, a prep school in Stanstead, Quebec. He played two seasons for Stanstead, posting 31 goals and 73 points in 2010–11 and then 53 goals and 93 points in 57 games during 2011–12. During those two years he experienced a major growth spurt, reaching 6 feet 2 inches tall, and his play drew the attention of NHL scouts.
Path to Hockey
Jankowski initially committed to play for the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League before heading to college, but he decided to bypass the junior league and move directly to the NCAA. He chose to play college hockey for the Providence Friars, following head coach Nate Leaman, who had recruited him while coaching at Union College. Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, Maine, and Penn State had also expressed interest in his services.
By the time of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau had moved Jankowski up to 43rd on its final ranking, while other analysts placed him even higher. The Calgary Flames selected him 21st overall, surprising some observers with the choice. Flames general manager Jay Feaster and assistant general manager John Weisbrod defended the pick, arguing that other teams were ready to take him in the first round and that his talent justified the selection. Jankowski became the highest-drafted Canadian high school player in NHL history.
Mark Jankowski Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Jankowski signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames on March 30, 2016, beginning his professional career. He spent the tail end of the 2015–16 season with the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, before being called up to the NHL in November 2016. He made 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. He capped his first full NHL season with a memorable performance on April 7, 2018, recording his first four-goal game in a 7–1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The explosive finish helped establish him as a full-time NHL player.
Calgary Flames Years (2018–2020)
Jankowski remained a fixture in the Flames lineup for the following two seasons, contributing on both the power play and at even strength. After a strong start to his NHL career, however, the 2019–20 campaign proved difficult, as he was limited to a fourth-line role and managed only 5 goals and 7 points in 56 games. The Flames declined to tender him a qualifying offer and released him as a free agent on October 8, 2020.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres (2020–2022)
Jankowski signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins at the opening of free agency in October 2020. He later attended the New Jersey Devils’ training camp on a professional tryout in September 2021 but was released without a contract. On October 15, 2021, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Rochester Americans of the AHL, the primary affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres.
After collecting 5 goals and 12 points in his first 13 games with Rochester, Jankowski was signed to a one-year, $750,000 contract by the Buffalo Sabres on November 28, 2021. He finished the season in the Sabres organization before becoming a free agent once again.
Nashville Predators Era (2022–2025)
On July 14, 2022, Jankowski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators. He became a reliable depth forward in Nashville, contributing both offensively and in a checking role. On March 8, 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Predators, signalling the club’s confidence in his two-way play.
Carolina Hurricanes Era (2025–Present)
At the 2024–25 NHL trade deadline, the Predators dealt Jankowski to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick on March 7, 2025. He made his Hurricanes debut on March 9 and scored twice in a 4–2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets, becoming just the third player in franchise history to record multiple goals in his Hurricanes debut. The early production signalled a strong fit with Carolina’s up-tempo system.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jankowski is recognized for his combination of size, skating, and hockey sense, making him effective in a two-way centre role. He is comfortable on the power play and dependable as a penalty killer, while his reach and long stride help him win puck battles along the boards. Coaches have valued his responsible defensive play and his willingness to play a physical, north-south game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the highlights of Jankowski’s career are his first NHL goal against Detroit in November 2017, his four-goal performance against the Vegas Golden Knights on April 7, 2018, and his two-goal Hurricanes debut on March 9, 2025. He also earned a place in draft history as the highest Canadian high school player ever taken in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.
Mark Jankowski Career Wins
Mark Jankowski’s career has been built on steady contributions rather than a long list of individual trophies. His most notable scoring milestones came during his first full NHL seasons with the Calgary Flames, and he has continued to produce in smaller roles with subsequent teams. His ability to deliver key goals in transition periods, including a two-goal debut with the Hurricanes, has defined his journey.
NHL Highlights
Jankowski made an immediate impression at the NHL level with the Flames, highlighted by his first career goal and a four-goal outing in 2017–18. After stops in Pittsburgh and Buffalo, he settled into a depth-scoring role with the Nashville Predators before being traded to Carolina. His two-goal Hurricanes debut against the Winnipeg Jets stands as one of the signature moments of his recent career.
Mark Jankowski Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hockey runs deep in the Jankowski family. His grandfather, Lou Jankowski, was a longtime professional who appeared in 127 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks during the 1950s. His granduncle is Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly, and his father, Len Jankowski, played college hockey with the Cornell Big Red. His uncle, Ryan Jankowski, serves as an assistant general manager with the Seattle Kraken, while his younger brother David signed an amateur tryout contract with the Calgary Flames in 2018.
Personal Life
Jankowski is a native of Dundas, Ontario, and maintains strong ties to his family in the Hamilton area. The multi-generational hockey connections in his family have shaped his path in the sport, with several relatives working in professional hockey operations and player development.
2025 Season Performance
Mark Jankowski’s 2024–25 season was split between the Nashville Predators and the Carolina Hurricanes after a March 7, 2025 trade. With Nashville, he continued to serve as a versatile forward capable of playing up and down the lineup, providing depth scoring and responsible defensive play. The trade to Carolina offered him a fresh opportunity to contribute on a contending team.
Jankowski wasted little time making an impact with the Hurricanes, scoring two goals in his debut on March 9, 2025, in a 4–2 win over the Winnipeg Jets. That performance made him only the third player in Hurricanes history to record multiple goals in his team debut, and it cemented his role in Carolina’s depth chart heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
As the Hurricanes push toward another deep playoff run in 2025, Jankowski is expected to provide secondary scoring, penalty killing, and a steady physical presence. His combination of size, experience, and recent offensive production gives Carolina another dependable option in its bottom six forward group.