What happened to Mark Jankowski?

I watched you hit the ice in Stockton in 2015 on a PTO after your college season was over. In eight games, you had two goals and four assists. You quickly became my favorite player. That short sample size had me looking forward to your first full rookie year.

At the start of the 2015-16 season, you came into Stockton on a mission. You had a strong start to the season centering the top line. You played both power play and penalty kill minutes.

Based on your strong play, you were called up for five games in mid-November and made your NHL debut against the New York Islanders. Even though you were on the fourth line, you played with passion.

Upon your return to the Heat after that 10-day call up, your game got better by making better decisions with the puck. Coming up the ice from the defensive zone, you surveyed the zone to see what the best option was: pass, shoot, dump in, or re-group. It was like the game slowed down for you.

That season you were an AHL All-Star, named to the AHL All-Rookie team, and led your team in goals and points (27-29-56). You had the first regular season hat trick in team history, matching the one you had in preseason. You led your team to the playoffs where you took the top-seeded San Jose Barracuda to overtime in a fifth and deciding game. You were a point-per-game player in the playoffs (1-4-5).

In 2016-17, you were by far the best rookie in Calgary’s training camp, leading the team in goals with four. You should have made the Flames out of camp, but you were the last player cut and reportedly told when you returned to Stockton to remain sharp. You did just that; netting five goals to go along with your three assists in just six games before you got that call in late October. In fact, this picture was taken after the last game you suited up for the Heat.

Upon your arrival in Calgary, you centered a line with Sam Bennett and the legendary Jaromir Jagr. I watched the first goal you scored against Detroit, on a feed from Jagr that went off your shorts.

That goal you scored between your legs against Arizona is still a highlight reel moment for me.

After Jagr left, your game started to decline. Bounces were not going your way, chances were not being buried, and you looked frustrated. It did not help having Troy Brouwer on your line, but that is no excuse. I was ticked off when you were benched for a game in mid-season, but you were in a slump. You capped off your year with your first hat trick-plus-one against Vegas in the last game of the year while centering the top line.

Wrapping up a 25-point rookie season (17-8) was a little lower than I expected, but getting acquainted to the NHL and its speed compared to that of the AHL gave one of your biggest supporters promise for a breakout season this year.

So far this year you have let me down. You are not the same player I watched grow over the past few years. You’re not even the same player I watched last year. In eight games, you have the same about of healthy scratches as points: two, both assists. You look lost, distracted, and/or uninterested.

You need to embrace the role this team and coaching staff is asking of you. If that is bottom six center, then be the best bottom line center you can be. Maybe having a veteran presence on your line, like James Neal, will help you rid yourself from this funk. Put your 6’4″, 203-pound torso to use by playing with grit and determination every second you are on the ice. Right now your play only warrants the 7-10 minutes a night you are getting. You are not granted playing time: it is earned.

Whatever the cause is, you need to snap out of it. You need to play with the same fire you had when you were sent back to Stockton at the start of last season. If you don’t, you will be making the same trip again shortly.