Jankowski is indicative of the growing connection, concluding a 71-start freshman year with a highly-respectable 17 goals.
Rough-and-tumble Garnet Hathaway and steady D-man Brett Kulak both also found permanent homes here for the first time.
Another top prospect, free-agent signing Spencer Foo, arrived on the strength of a stellar second half in Stockton, played the closing four games of the regular season for the Flames and connected for his first two big-league snipes.
Both goaltenders who opened the year in California, David Rittich and Jon Gillies, received long looks in Calgary, each making a statement of intention heading into September in their quests to partner No. 1 Mike Smith in the goaltending rotation.
Over his 21 starts as a Flame, Rittich went 8-6-3 with a 2.92 GAA and .904 save percentage. Gillies, in 11 appearances, put up like numbers - 3-5-1, 2.88 GAA, .896 save percentage.
Puck-moving D-man Rasmus Andersson also made a strong impression in his audition of 10 games, hinting at full-time NHL employment next season.
Left-winger Andrew Mangipane, the Heat's leading scorer, made his NHL debut on New Year's Eve at the 'Dome, versus Chicago, as did Morgan Klimchuk on Feb. 19 against Boston.