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LOS ANGELES — To characterize it as a pop quiz wouldn’t be quite right.

After all, Calgary Flames prospect Mark Jankowski has long been working toward a career in professional puck.

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But Friday’s hey-how-ya-doing? with the American Hockey League’s Stockton Heat — Jankowski’s first game in the paid-to-play ranks — is the type of test for which a youngster can’t totally prepare.

“Quite frankly, a lot of the guys — it’s not their fault because they’re not exposed to it and I’m not saying it’s the case for Mark — may not respect the American League,” said Flames GM Brad Treliving. “Until they get there, and then it’s, ‘Oh my God, this is a 30-year-old defenceman here tonight with a wife and kids, and this is how he makes his living.’

“From a development standpoint, it’s the right place for (Jankowski) to be.”

Treliving convinced him of that during contract negotiations this week.

Although the 21-year-old centre and his agent were angling for an immediate look-see at the big-league level, Jankowski eventually put his signature Wednesday on a two-year, entry-level deal that kicks in for the 2016-17 campaign. When he checked the National Hockey League scores late that night, Jankowski must have been a wee bit relieved that he wasn’t with the Flames for an 8-3 drumming from the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center.