Mark Jankowski Bio
Mark Jankowski, born on September 13, 1994, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays the centre position. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing roughly 200 pounds, he shoots left and currently plays 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, making him the highest selected Canadian high school player in draft history.
Early Life and Background
Mark Jankowski was born and raised in the small community of Dundas, Ontario, a town located near Hamilton in southern Ontario. He grew up in a family with a deep connection to hockey, which shaped his early interest in the sport. His grandfather, Lou, was a longtime professional player who appeared in 127 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the 1950s, while his granduncle was Hockey Hall of Famer Red Kelly. His father, Len, played college hockey with the Cornell Big Red, further embedding the sport into the family’s identity.
Jankowski’s younger brother, David, later signed an amateur tryout contract with the Calgary Flames in 2018, continuing the family’s tradition. His uncle, Ryan, serves as an assistant general manager with the Seattle Kraken. This extensive family involvement in hockey provided Mark Jankowski with strong role models and a clear path toward pursuing the sport at the highest levels.
Path to Hockey
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. Despite his scoring ability, he went unselected in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) midget draft because 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 attend Stanstead College, a prep school in Stanstead, Quebec, where he played two seasons of high school hockey. In 2010-11, he scored 31 goals and 73 points, and in 2011-12, he posted 53 goals and 93 points in 57 games. During his second season at Stanstead, Jankowski committed to play college hockey for the Providence Friars, turning down interest from Boston University, Cornell, Harvard, Maine, and Penn State.
He quickly grew during his time at Stanstead, reaching 6 feet 2 inches tall, which helped shift scouting opinion in his favor. Although the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit selected him in the seventh round of the 2012 OHL draft, Jankowski declined to join the team and committed directly to Providence, skipping the United States Hockey League. The NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau ranked him 43rd overall heading into the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, where the Calgary Flames surprised many by taking him 21st overall.
Mark Jankowski Career
Early Career (2012-2016)
After being drafted by the Calgary Flames in 2012, Jankowski attended the team’s rookie development camp before beginning his collegiate career with the Providence Friars. He played multiple seasons of NCAA hockey, developing his game and growing into a stronger, taller forward. He signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Flames on March 30, 2016, ending his college career.
For the remainder of the 2015-16 season, Jankowski was assigned to the Stockton Heat, the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate. These games did not count toward his NHL contract, but they gave him his first taste of professional hockey and prepared him for the next step in his career.
Calgary Flames Era (2016-2020)
Jankowski was called up by the Flames in November 2016 and made his NHL debut against the New York Islanders on November 28, 2016. On November 9, 2017, he scored his first career NHL goal against the Detroit Red Wings in a 6-3 win, marking a major milestone in his young career. On April 7, 2018, in the final 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 just 5 goals and 7 points in 56 games, the Flames did not tender him a qualifying offer. He was released as a free agent on October 8, 2020, ending his tenure in Calgary.
Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres Era (2020-2022)
The day after free agency opened, Jankowski signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Following his time in Pittsburgh, he 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 signed 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 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. He finished the 2021-22 season with the Sabres organization, demonstrating that he could still produce offensively at the NHL level.
Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes Era (2022-Present)
As a free agent from the Sabres, Jankowski signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators on July 14, 2022. He performed well enough that on March 8, 2024, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Predators, securing his place in Nashville.
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. He made his Hurricanes debut on March 9, scoring two goals in a 4-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets and becoming the third player to score multiple goals in his Hurricanes debut.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jankowski is known as a versatile centre who can play in all situations, including the penalty kill and power play. His 6-foot-4 frame, combined with his soft hands and scoring touch, makes him a valuable depth forward. He is also recognized for his work ethic and willingness to embrace a checking-line role when required.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of Jankowski’s signature moments came on April 7, 2018, when he scored four goals against the Vegas Golden Knights. His two-goal Hurricanes debut on March 9, 2025, against the Winnipeg Jets added another milestone to his career, placing him in the franchise’s history books.
Mark Jankowski Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Mark Jankowski has made contributions across multiple NHL organizations, including the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, and Carolina Hurricanes. His four-goal performance against the Vegas Golden Knights remains one of the most memorable individual achievements of his career.
NHL Highlights
Jankowski’s first NHL goal came on November 9, 2017, against the Detroit Red Wings, opening the scoring in a 6-3 win. His four-goal outing on April 7, 2018, against the Vegas Golden Knights stands as his most prolific single-game performance. After being traded to the Carolina Hurricanes, he scored twice in his debut on March 9, 2025, becoming the third player in franchise history to achieve that feat.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NHL, Jankowski has posted strong numbers at the AHL level with the Stockton Heat and Rochester Americans. His midget AAA and high school scoring records at Stanstead College also stand as highlights of his amateur development.
Mark Jankowski Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Mark Jankowski comes from one of hockey’s notable families. His grandfather, Lou Jankowski, played 127 NHL games with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks in the 1950s. His granduncle, Red Kelly, is a Hockey Hall of Famer, and his father, Len, played college hockey at Cornell. His uncle, Ryan Jankowski, is 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
Mark Jankowski is a native of Dundas, Ontario, and continues to maintain strong ties to his hometown community. He has built his career around hard work and resilience, moving through five NHL organizations while remaining a dependable professional.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a significant turning point for Mark Jankowski. After spending parts of three seasons with the Nashville Predators, he was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes at the NHL trade deadline on March 7, 2025, in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick. He wasted little time making an impact, scoring two goals in his Hurricanes debut on March 9 against the Winnipeg Jets.
His immediate offensive contribution helped stabilize the Hurricanes’ depth scoring during the stretch run of the regular season. Becoming the third player in franchise history to score multiple goals in his debut added a memorable chapter to his career and boosted his confidence heading into the postseason.
Looking ahead, Jankowski is expected to remain a valuable bottom-six forward for the Hurricanes, providing versatility, size, and veteran presence. His ability to play centre and wing, along with his penalty-killing skills, gives Carolina additional flexibility in their forward lineup.
