Get to know center Alexander Campbell, selected 65th overall by the Nashville Predators. He spent last season with the Victoria Grizzlies, will spend next season in the USHL and is committed to Clarkson University for the 2020-21 season.
Previous season stats:
2018-19 – Victoria Grizzlies – BCHL
53 games – 21 G – 46 A – 45 PTS – 6 PIM
Committed to Clarkson University for 2020-21
What the scouts are saying
Hockey Prospect
Campbell is a diminutive–yet elusive winger who comes equipped with an adaptable-attack. He features one of the slightest-frames out of any draft-eligible forward; yet has an excellent top-gear which is a testament to his skating mechanics. There are few players who are more technically refined coming out of the gate, and this allows him to compensate for his lack of power. His stride is very efficient; he leans further back, relying on his quads and he’s adept at balancing himself when in full-flight as a result. The most significant aspect of his skating is in regards to his pivoting and edge-work. Due to his size, defenders look to physically initiate with him, but he’s very good at angling himself away from physical contact while in motion as a result of his agility. His dexterity allows him to manipulate his frame generating misdirection when opponents are trying to identify his skating lane. This made him equally as effective when skating laterally, as it does when he skates north-south. His processing ability when determining what’s available in open-ice is very good; few players recognize how to take advantage of soft-ice as much as Alex has in our viewings. When his lanes are closed-off; his puck-skills synergies well with his slippery-style of play. He can pull-the-puck rapidly while simultaneously contorting his frame to avoid players who are trying to initiate with him. Furthermore, like Newhook, he’s not a kid who looks to use a pre-set list of moves given the context of a play-type; he’s adaptive and feels off what his opponents are giving him. This translated to a lot of success in areas of the ice that his frame would theoretically put him at disadvantage in. Specifically, around the net-area and in high-traffic around the slot. He’s more of a technically-sound passer who looks for high-percentage passing options than he is a multi-faceted one. This blends well with his willingness to enter high-traffic areas with the puck; looking to draw defenses towards himself before finding his open- teammates with crisp passes. Where Alex was less successful offensively was in regards to his shot-placement. Although his release is quick and he can take pucks in one-motion; in some of our viewings, he would miss the net frequently. There’s still a lack of overall polish within how he follows through his shot.
One of the more impressive traits featured in Campbell’s game is a mental-one but it could be to his long-term detriment. Given his stature, he should be less inclined to initiate contact than he is. He doesn’t play afraid and does surprisingly well during board-battling sequences by out-working other players; this applies to his stick-lifting which is one of his best defensive-traits. Although his work-rate and compete-level are welcomed, he’s going to have to gain a substantial amount of mass in order for his game to currently translate away from the puck. Additionally, when he attacks high-traffic areas — it’s critical for him to have a frame that can absorb some contact.
