JACK CAMPBELL - Goalie - 27 - $1.50MM Cap Hit - UFA in 2022-2023
LAST UPDATED 6/21/19
Jack Campbell’s career is a major reason why NHL teams are so hesitant to invest high draft picks in goalies. Goalies typically take a half decade from the point they are drafted to the point they are developed enough to be a consistent NHL-er, and so many things can go wrong throughout that development cycle, making goalie prospects notoriously unpredictable assets. Jack Campbell is the case study from which those conclusions are derived. Campbell had an incredible amateur career with the US National Team Development Program, but he struggled in the OHL for the two seasons after he was drafted and similarly found only limited success at the AHL level. His chances to break into the NHL at that point had all not gone well and the Stars felt that only the ECHL would get Campbell’s development back on track. Even for goalies, a top-15 pick being in the ECHL in his draft+5 and draft+6 seasons is a disaster. Dallas finally let Campbell go, and after 78 games over two seasons of .913 sv% goaltending in the AHL for the LA Kings organization, management finally felt that it was time for Campbell to take the next step. Thrust into action on a bad Kings team after Jonathan Quick’s injuries (and inconsistencies) Campbell had a superb season, posting a .928 sv% and 2.30 GAA in 31 games. With that performance, Campbell cemented himself as a more than capable NHL backup goalie, and because he’s not even 30 years old there’s still room for a Devan Dubnyk-esque late-career renaissance. Given all the upside that he had and the persistence he’s shown throughout his NHL career, I wouldn’t bet against Campbell at least maintaining his status as a capable NHL backup, and I’d even bet on him potentially becoming so much more. He’s someone to look out for, and If I’m running a rebuilding team, with no intention of competing, I see no problem with starting Campbell and seeing if you can get him to become the franchise goalie he was always meant to become.
Jack Campbell’s career is a major reason why NHL teams are so hesitant to invest high draft picks in goalies. Goalies typically take a half decade from the point they are drafted to the point they are developed enough to be a consistent NHL-er, and so many things can go wrong throughout that development cycle, making goalie prospects notoriously unpredictable assets. Jack Campbell is the case study from which those conclusions are derived. Campbell had an incredible amateur career with the US National Team Development Program, but he struggled in the OHL for the two seasons after he was drafted and similarly found only limited success at the AHL level. His chances to break into the NHL at that point had all not gone well and the Stars felt that only the ECHL would get Campbell’s development back on track. Even for goalies, a top-15 pick being in the ECHL in his draft+5 and draft+6 seasons is a disaster. Dallas finally let Campbell go, and after 78 games over two seasons of .913 sv% goaltending in the AHL for the LA Kings organization, management finally felt that it was time for Campbell to take the next step. Thrust into action on a bad Kings team after Jonathan Quick’s injuries (and inconsistencies) Campbell had a superb season, posting a .928 sv% and 2.30 GAA in 31 games. With that performance, Campbell cemented himself as a more than capable NHL backup goalie, and because he’s not even 30 years old there’s still room for a Devan Dubnyk-esque late-career renaissance. Given all the upside that he had and the persistence he’s shown throughout his NHL career, I wouldn’t bet against Campbell at least maintaining his status as a capable NHL backup, and I’d even bet on him potentially becoming so much more. He’s someone to look out for, and If I’m running a rebuilding team, with no intention of competing, I see no problem with starting Campbell and seeing if you can get him to become the franchise goalie he was always meant to become.
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