My thoughts on the Stars selecting Jack Campbell

Under most circumstances tonight for the Dallas Stars, Jack Campbell would be considered a great pick looking for a strong goaltender in the near future. But when you have the top 2 defensemen in Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley who were expected to go into the #5 slid to the middle of the first round draft, it should be a no brainier.

The Stars could have done 2 things tonight by picking either Fowler or Gormley; fill a much needed hole in defense and select the best player available, they did neither so my grade for tonight slips for the staff for the scouting staff and GM Joe Niewendyk. Instead, just after the Stars took Campbell, two of the Stars Pacific Division Rivals in the Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks took both Gromley and Fowler. So instead of having one of the best young defensemen on his way to the NHL, we are going to have to compete against them for years to come in the Pacific Division.

Now, I do respect Campbell, he was a goalie on the USNTDP which is a very hard program to get into and this was considered to one of the deepest USNTDP Programs they have had in years with 3 players taken in the 1st Round and more to come in the later rounds throughout the day tomorrow. He's also won Gold Medals at both the U18 (Twice) and the World Junior Championship in Saskatchewan this past season. But the issue with goalies, regardless of how good or the style is the fact that they take the longest amount of time of any player to take and won't even sniff the NHL for sometime to come.

He's had a great two years with the USNTDP and he's expected to be great for the Windsor Spitfires as he's expected to compete with the starting job with Philipp Grubauer. Expect Grubauer to be the starter for the Spitfires, but I would expect Campbell to get his fair share of starts for the 2 time OHL & Memorial Cup Champions next season.

So in conclusion, Campbell is a strong pick to be in the net. But when you consider we could have filled a huge void and strengthen the defense which badly needed a boost tonight. The Stars could have done so much better tonight.

Let's see what the Stars do tomorrow as the team just has 3 picks tomorrow unless the Stars are able to work out some kind of trade, the big rumor right now is that Mike Riberio could be on the trading block. So be sure to check out what the Stars do tomorrow in terms of who they pick and to see if any trades are worked out tomorrow.

Stats and Info on Jack Campbell (This was the first year the USNTDP was in the USHL. Prior to this season, the National Team Program was in the NAHL.)

2008-2009 in the NAHL: 21 GP 14-6-1 2.52 GAA .906 SV%

2009-2010 in the USHL: 11 GP 6-3-1 2.21 GAA .917 SV%


What experts are saying about Campbell

AL Jensen of NHL Central Scouting: "He's got good size, doesn't beat himself up and his positioning is very good. He has good quickness and recovery, but he's not all over the place. He'll make the important saves.

Bob Mckenzie, TSN Hockey Insider: Campbell is, by all accounts, an incredible teammate with character and leadership and game-stealing capabilities, the trail scouts look for a franchise net-minder. It's said he's off the scale confident but not cocky and he works as hard in practice to shut out teammates as he does in a game and that he's a good oriented individual who will settle for nothing less then being a dominant goalie at the NHL Level.

From the Hockey's Future Website: Very good technique and exceptionally confident. Campbell is a big game goalie.

From Joe Exter, USNTDP Goaltending Coach: Jack has size, athleticism and is fundamentally sound. He's won on the big stage at both the World U18 Championships and World Junior Championships.