Afanasyev, Jankowski Eager to Continue Impactful Play with Predators

14 wins in a row is good, but a call up to the National Hockey League is even better.

Such was the case for both Egor Afanasyev and Mark Jankowski, who got the coveted call to join the Nashville Predators on Monday in the midst of an electrifying franchise run with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

“Any time you get the call up, it's really exciting,” Jankowski said following practice on Monday. “We have such a good group of guys down there, starting from the coaching staff, the leadership group, and it shows. You can't really build those wins together without a good, solid core and a good team atmosphere. So, it’s such a good group of guys, but obviously we’re really excited to be here.”

The call to Nashville can certainly be viewed as a reward for both forwards, who have each iced stellar campaigns thus far.

In his third year with the Admirals, Afanasyev has set career highs in goals (21) and points (42) and has matched a career high in assists (21). He is additionally tied for fifth among AHL skaters in goals and tied for sixth in points and game-winning goals (5).

During Milwaukee’s active and franchise record-breaking streak starting Jan. 5, the forward recorded 20 points (8g-12a), including seven multi-point performances.

Confidence, as the 23-year-old forward put it, has been key.

“I feel great,” Afanasyev said. “As a hockey player and as a person, I think when you’re feeling great mentally, that’s where the success comes from. Obviously, me and Janko getting called up is great for us, and we’re going to try and have as much of an impact as we had [in Milwaukee].”

“He just looks a little more confident and sure of himself,” Predators Head Coach Andrew Brunette said. “As a young player, he's having a great year down there and he deserves this opportunity.”

First in the AHL in shorthanded goals (5) and second among the Admirals roster in power-play goals (4), fans can expect to see Afanasyev plugged into both the Predators special teams units.

“He’s going to kill some penalties,” Brunette said. “Obviously, he’s got the [five] shorthanded goals, and then he’ll get some power play time too. We’ll ease him in a little bit, but we’re looking forward to seeing him.”

Jankowski has been no slouch either. In fact, he’s been anything but. 

In his eighth full professional season, Jankowski leads the Ads and is third in the AHL in both assists (32) and points (47) after 40 appearances. Jankowski was additionally named the AHL’s Player of the Month for January after recording 18 points (7g-11a) and a +15 rating in 11 games, helping the Admirals go undefeated during the month. During Milwaukee’s streak, the forward recorded seven multi-point performances, including two four-point outings and a four-game multi-point streak from Jan. 13-24; he’s also added two shorthanded goals during that span.

Brunette is excited to see Jankowski step into a larger offensive role with the Predators.

“He's always been an offensive guy,” Brunette said. “The last couple of years he's probably lost some roles and played more of a defensive role. So, I'm looking forward to him making some plays and giving us a little boost offensively.”

Like Afanasyev, Jankowski also cited confidence as a major factor this season.

“Confidence is a huge thing,” Jankowski said. “And if you lose that for a little bit, you get in your head and maybe second guess yourself, you don't want to make the play and you just kind of make the easy chip in and you don't really see the plays as well. And I think this year I've definitely got my confidence back. I’m making plays and reading all over the ice. And playing with great players as well makes it easy to read off them and gain that chemistry together.”

Of course, the Predators bench boss is eager to see that chemistry carry over when the pair of forwards gets their first taste of game action during Nashville’s meeting with the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

“I'm hoping they’ll keep the confidence level that they've been playing at [in Milwaukee],” Brunette said. “They've been really good down there, and I've watched them. Obviously, they were in a pretty good heater winning 14 games and [we called them up] just to give us a little bit of a boost and move some things around a little bit.”

One move fans can expect to see, as confirmed by Brunette on Tuesday, is a line stringing both forwards together. With much of the 2023-24 AHL campaign, and all of Milwaukee’s 14-game winning streak spent on the same line, the duo certainly isn’t complaining.

“We've been together pretty much all season and we've developed a really good chemistry,” Jankowski said. “We know where each other are on the ice and we feed off each other really well. [Egor] is playing his best hockey right now, and he's ready for this as well, so it's really exciting.”

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