Dallas Stars Prospect Notes & Front Office Update

A couple of updates for you tonight, in two completely different areas of the Dallas Stars organization.

We've been heavily involved in the sale process of the team, the sale of the Texas Rangers and how all of it has affected the Stars and neglected to keep you up to date with what a number of the top prospects were up to over the past few weeks. Both Scott Glennie and Jack Campbell took part in their respective country's development camp last week as Canada and the USA get closer to choosing their teams for the upcoming 2011 World Junior Championships.

Jack Campbell, the top pick in this summer's draft for the Stars (in case you had forgotten), was sensational last year for Team USA and is hoping to repeat that performance again. A great article over at NHL.com last week notes how just because Campbell is wearing gold around his neck, he's not guaranteed the starter's spot.

With three gold medals in a 12-month span and then being the 11th pick in the 2010 Entry Draft, Campbell's confidence should be at an all-time high. Instead, he's approaching this year's camp like last year never happened.

"I'm not satisfied with one gold medal, two gold medals, three gold medals," Campbell told NHL.com. "It doesn't matter. My goal is to … help this team win another world championship. If I don't take full responsibility over my performance on the ice every single day I'm here, and off the ice, I'm not going to help this team the best I can."

It's important to note, however, that Campbell was not perfect in the 2010 World Juniors. He came on in relief in the second period against Canada and allowed two heartbreaking goals at the end of regulation to allow the Canadians to send the game to overtime. Yet he buckled down and made several incredible saves in overtime, just before the USA's winning goal.

During this year's camp, competing against two newcomers in Andy Iles and Zane Gothberg, Campbell has been merely ok. In his one full game during the camp, against Sweden, he had 24 saves on 27 shots in a 6-3 win. Overall, he finished 4-0-0 with a 3.15 goals-against average and woefully pedestrian .869 save percentage.

I was unable to watch these games so I can't judge how he looked. Hearing some comments from the coaches and reading some of the reports, it sounds as if the USA coaches weren't completely pleases saying that "he's performed better". The good news is that it doesn't seem as if either Iles or Gothberg blew Campbell away either. I'm wondering if this was merely rust, but it's something to keep an eye on this year as Campbell heads to Windsor to start his pro career.

One thing that was noted was how Campbell had taken on a leadership role with the team and was somewhat mentoring the other goaltenders. That's always good to see.

Scott Glennie, Patrick Nemeth and more after the jump.

Scott Glennie took part in Canada's camp last week, which pitted the red and white teams against each other in two games after a couple of practices and scrimmages.

Unfortunately, Glennie didn't have a point in either game for Team White. In the first game, he played right wing next to Brayden Schenn and helped contribute to several goals -- even if he didn't register a point.

In the second game, Glennie played center on what looked to be the third line. He played betwen Ethan Werek and Ryan Howse and while they didn't have any points that line certainly causes it's share of havoc.

I had the chance to watch both games and I came away impressed with Glennie's development. True, you would have liked to have seen Glennie get some points but he certainly showed that he's grown as a player over the past year since being drafted. He's matured physically and he's not just a finisher anymore from the right wing, he's a playmaker that gets everyone on the line involved.

There's certainly a good reason why his points jumped significantly last year. Overall I was pleased with what I saw, even if he didn't get a point. Still, Glennie needs to start producing at this level if he's going to live up to his billing as the next great forward for the Stars.

Mark Stepneski over at ESPN Dallas also has some updates on a couple of the Stars' new European prospects who have started exhibition games for the SEL:

Nemeth scored AIK’s second goal in a 7-1 rout of Nynashamns IF. The Stars took Nemeth in the second round (41^st overall) in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

Klingberg, who will turn 18 next week, picked up the primary assist on his team’s first goal in a 3-1 victory over the Sparta Warriors (Norway). The Stars selected Klingberg in the fifth round (131^st overall) of this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

Mark Stepneski notes that Geoff Moore and the senior management all ready in place will oversee the Dallas Stars operations following Jeff Cogen's departure for Nashville. Right now, who exactly is in charge is up in the air as Tom Hicks hasn't made his decision on what should happen while waiting for the sale of the team to go through.

With the sale likely to be done sometime over the next two months, and with the new owner very likely to bring in his own management team, I wouldn't be surprised if Moore ran the show until then. He is very capable of the doing the job and if anyone should have experience marketing hockey in Texas it's him -- he was the first employee hired by Norm Green when the team first came to Dallas.

"I was so overwhelmed with the thought of all the things that had to be done. It just seemed like it was crazy with the season fast approaching," said Moore, who was just 25 when he joined the Stars. "When Norm hired Jim Lites and Jim brought Jeff Cogen with him from Detroit and they walked into the office, in about 15 minutes order had been created. They split up and organized their staffs and told them exactly what to do. That’s the position Jeff will have for me.

Personally, I think it would be wise for the new owner to do what he thinks best but also seriously consider keeping the core of the management and marketing people with the team. They were the ones that built the foundation for hockey to become successful in Texas and they're the ones who now how to keep it going.

One quick, personal note on Jeff Cogan.

I'm sad to see the guy go. I understand why he left, especially since he is a Tom Hicks "guy", but I was ecstatic when I learned he would be taking over for Jim Lites. Cogen is one of the best in the business at what he does and is extremely personable and accessible to fans.

There were several times over the past few years where I just picked up the phone and called his office to get his take on a number of issues. He was more than happy to be candid with me, usually off the record, but his honesty and willingness to talk really gave me a great impression into who he was and what he was trying to do for this team.

It's sad to see him go.