Teams on the clock in deep NHL draft

Hockey Betting Lines

05/24/2010 - Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NHL Entry Draft, set to take place June 25 in Los Angeles, provides both players and general managers the opportunity to take the next step towards success.

While top prospects Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin have garnered most of the attention among this year's group of prospects, the following three players also offer a unique skill set that will help make for compelling drama among those vying for their services next month.

EMERSON ETEM, C, Medicine Hat Tigers

The allure of drafting a homegrown athlete is often too tempting to pass up, especially if that talent is a hockey player from the sunny state of California. That is the position the Anaheim Ducks find themselves in heading into the draft.

Long Beach native Emerson Etem of the Western Hockey League's (WHL) Medicine Hat Tigers is likely on the radar of the Ducks, who own the 12th and 16th picks of the first round.

Aside from his California roots, Etem's ability to play right wing or center will be an attractive ingredient for the Ducks who will need to replenish an aging crop of secondary scorers, with Jason Blake (36), Teemu Selanne (39) and Saku Koivu (35) all in the twilight of their careers.

NHL Central Scouting currently ranks Etem eighth among North American skaters, while various mock drafts have him going anywhere from eighth to 18th.

At 6'0", 194 pounds, Etem is an explosive skater who handles the puck well at full speed. In his first WHL season, Etem compiled 37 goals and 65 points in 72 games while also chipping in another seven goals in 12 playoff games.

Prior to his WHL debut, Etem honed his skills in the U.S. Under-17 National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he racked up 45 (23-22) points in 50 games.

JACK CAMPBELL, G - USNTDP

Another product of the USNTDP that will have GM's licking their chops is 6'2" goaltender Jack Campbell.

Campbell, who has committed to play for the Ontario Hockey League's (OHL) Windsor Spitfires next season, is the definition of a big-game goalie.

His golden resume includes a stellar performance at the 2010 World Junior Championship and back-to-back World Under-18 Championships, where he earned the best goalkeeper award last month in Minsk, Belarus, posting a 0.83 GAA and .965 save percentage in six games, including three shutouts.

While there is a lot of speculation as to where Campbell will be drafted, a scout at McKeen's Hockey believes that with his international accomplishments and budding athleticism, the Michigan native will be scooped up within the first five picks.

If Campbell is indeed taken in the top five, it will make him the first goalie from the USNTDP selected in the first round.

One potential suitor for Campbell's services could very well be the New York Islanders (fifth pick), who drafted oft-injured goaltender Rick DiPietro No. 1 overall in the 2000 draft.

Although they have DiPietro under contract until 2021, nagging knee and hip injuries have limited the 29-year old to 13 games over the last two seasons.

With a solid group of prospects up front and some potential defensive studs in Calvin de Haan and Travis Hamonic coming up through the junior ranks, the Islanders could very well take another shot at securing a franchise goaltender.

If the Islanders decide to pass on Campbell, the Tampa Bay Lightning (sixth pick) or the St. Louis Blues (14t) would make an optimal match, as both teams are in desperate need of help in goal.

JEFF SKINNER, C, Kitchener Rangers

Unlike the state of the global economy, one player who has seen his stock rise at a rapid rate is Kitchener Rangers forward Jeff Skinner.

The Markham, Ont. native was the 47th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting in their mid-term report, but jumped 13 spots by the time they released their final rankings.

After his performance in the OHL playoffs this past spring, the skilled sniper has likely put himself in position to land in the top 15.

Skinner was an offensive dynamo for the Rangers this past season, netting 50 goals and 90 points in the regular season while torching opposing goalies for another 20 in the postseason.

At 5'10" and 187 pounds, Skinner has a solid base and low center of gravity, which makes him difficult to knock off the puck. He also possess a high compete level and tenacity that has made him a fan favorite in Kitchener and an enemy in opposing rinks.

Despite being a former nationally-ranked figure skater, his lack of foot speed is considered his biggest downfall. But with an acute hockey sense and a deft touch around the net, Skinner is undeniably one of the most highly skilled forwards in the draft.

Every team could use a forward as talented as Skinner, but where he will be drafted is a hotly contested topic. Some mock drafts have him going as high as eighth while others don't even have him ranked in the first round.

Based on his skill set, there are several teams sprinkled throughout the draft that would love to acquire Skinner's services.

Within the top 10, the Atlanta Thrashers and New York Rangers could be a good fit for Skinner's offensive prowess.

With the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers will be looking to add another scoring forward to complement last year's fourth overall pick, Evander Kane, while the Rangers could use some future insurance with the glass-like Marian Gaborik ranking as their only scoring threat.

Where Skinner ends up will be an interesting storyline to follow on draft day, as the underrated 50-goal scorer could be the steal of the draft.

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Straight Bet

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