2010 NHL Draft Profile: Jack Campbell

by Art Middleton on Jun 16, 2010 12:30 PM CDT

Defending Big D continues our annual series of looking at top draft prospects that could possibly have their name called by the Dallas Stars at the 2010 Entry Draft. Today we look to a goalie who really made a name for himself at the recent World Junior championships by leading Team USA to a gold medal: Goaltender Jack Campbell of the US National Development team.

Jack Campbell

Team: US National Development (USHL)
Born: Janurary 9, 1992
Hometown: Port Huron, Michigan
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 175 pounds
Position: Goaltender
Catches: Left

Central Scouting rank: 2nd North American Goalies

		Lge	GP	W	L	T	GAA	SV %
2008-09	USN U18	NAHL	21	14	6	1	2.52	.906
2009-10	USNDT	USHL	11	6	3	1	2.21	.917

Why the Stars would want him:

The Stars once booming depth at goal has slowly shrunk away and is in need of restocking. Campbell's poise and confidence is beyond compare and he is probably the best goalie in the draft in terms of his ability to play sound, technical hockey and not be caught out of position. His puck handling abilities have also been well noted and he's been compared to the likes of Martin Brodeur and Marty Turco in that respect.

Why the Stars would pass:

Jack's attitude has been called into question at times and there has been the odd criticism that his ego is a little too inflated for an 18 year old kid. On the ice he could stand to fill out a little more. Plus there has been a stigma with goalies drated in the first round, so the Stars may want to put their chips in with a safer pick and hope that a goalie like Johnson is available come the 2nd round or later.

What they're saying:

The Scouting Report's take on Campbell..

Campbell is the best goalie available in the draft. Very strong technically, he takes up a lot of space in the net and finds ways to win games, especially big games, such as the Gold Medal Game at the World Juniors as a 17 year old. He could go a lot higher if a team decides they want to step up and take a goalie. He'll be joining the Windsor Spitfires next year.

J ack himself knew his size needed to be improved when he talked to Rivals.com in April...

Most importantly, I developed physical strength. Coming into the [US] program I weighed 158 pounds and I had very little strength. After nine months of training, I have gained 30 pounds in muscle and have gotten quicker than I came in. Let's just say I owe a big thank you to Darryl Nelson [US strength coach] for that.

And on YouTube: Jack Campbell - Highlights (via mike8219)

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Comments

Even if Lehtonen stays healthy,

he really only has 5-6 years of prime hockey left…and thats if he even stays healthy. I think drafting a goalie would be a wise choice.

And if YOU were the best in your position going into the draft, at 18 years of age, wouldn’t YOU be a little cocky too? Besides, so was Eddie, and being cocky is what makes good goalies turn into great goalies.

I would be okay if we took him in the first round… What number is our pick in the second, though? Do you think he would still be available by then?

by Tsudbury on Jun 16, 2010 2:18 PM CDT reply actions

After 11

The Stars have the 41st pick.

I don’t think there’s any way in hell he drops to 41.

Heck, after you get past #5 or #6…it’s kind of a crap shoot for a while.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Jun 16, 2010 2:22 PM CDT reply actions

There's no doubt

Campbell is somebody who ought to get a long look from Les Jackson and Joe Nieuwendyk. The kid play well under the pressure of the World Juniors.

But with the dearth of defensemen in the system and with the year Climie had in CP, not to mention with the character question marks, I think this might be a bit of a gamble. Especially if Forbort is there at 11.

Defending Big D | Let's Go Hawks! | This is Anfield

by Brandon Bibb on Jun 16, 2010 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I think that choice comes down to

how good we feel the defensemen we had in the AHL have been developing this year. From what I saw (granted, I only saw the CC Finals) it looked like we’ll be having some pretty decent defensemen come up to Dallas in the next season or two.

by Tsudbury on Jun 16, 2010 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

The defensemen in Cedar Park

Are mostly career AHLers at this point. They are old and not long term defensive solutions at the AHL level. The cupboard is pretty bare as far as defense goes. Philip Larsen is it until they get some more help.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Jun 16, 2010 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Well Crap.

Draft some D-men then.

by Tsudbury on Jun 16, 2010 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions

err...at the NHL leve, I meant to say

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Jun 16, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

level

Please excuse my illiteracy today.

Defending Big D

by Brad Gardner on Jun 16, 2010 4:06 PM CDT up reply actions

today only.

perfection from here on out though.

by Tsudbury on Jun 16, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Is Johnson another goalie prospect?

Or was that a typo?

by hiafex on Jun 16, 2010 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

lol.... Jack Johnson might be a good draft choice...

I hear he has bubbly toes.

by Tsudbury on Jun 16, 2010 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions

As surprising as Jack was in the world juniors

I’m not convinced he merits a 1st round pick, let alone the 11th overall. If he does slip out of the 1st round, I wouldn’t mind seeing Joe make a trade to grab an early 2nd pick to take him. Having Bachman, Beskorowany and Campbell in the system while shoring up our defense with the 11th pick would be fantastic.

by LilEagle on Jun 16, 2010 4:03 PM CDT reply actions

Even if Campbell gets to #11 (no guarantee)

I wouldn’t be intent on taking him. Stars have bigger needs- you know, defensemen. And this draft looks pretty deep at D, so the potential of taking a pretty good D-man at 11 is too tempting. Besides, we saw last year that a sub-par defensive group can doom you no matter the goalie.

by Giant Space Ants on Jun 16, 2010 4:50 PM CDT reply actions

Forbort and Weal

That would be really cool. A D Man in the Frist and the WHL Rookie scoring Champ (Not totally certain but he was top 5) Weal is slated to go in the second. If not him then Maybe Pickard slips to the second and we could trade up if he were highly thought of

by sundancekid on Jun 17, 2010 8:22 AM CDT reply actions

I want a defenseman with this pick, nothing else. Besides, I thought the good goalies were always found in the later rounds (cough cough Ryan Miller).

Here's to all us girls who love hockey...and the men who play it.

by Brad_Richards_Rocks on Jun 17, 2010 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

No way do you draft him at 11

Considering what a crap shoot goalies are and how many great ones are out there, you don’t blow a 1st round near top-10 pick on an unproven goalie.

It’s weird how it seems that the top 20 picks have a good chance of being 1st and 2nd liners and then it goes down to 5th and 6th rounders. What notable 2nd and 3rd round picks do you know of?

Which is not to say that you always need to draft superstars when solid players are so important.

by jabudi on Jun 17, 2010 9:38 AM CDT reply actions