NHL Players Jack Campbell Career Has Officially Hit Rock Bottom

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Austin Sabourin
December 22, 2023 (11:43 PM)

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Jack Campbell, the goaltender, is currently facing a tough stretch, no way around it. After a challenging start with the Edmonton Oilers, he found himself in the minors, raising questions about the hefty five-year, $25 million deal he received from Oilers GM Ken Holland in 2022, following a mostly successful tenure with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Since joining the Bakersfield Condors, the Oilers' AHL affiliate, Campbell's performance hasn't been stellar, boasting a 4-6-0 record with a 3.46 goals against average and a .888 save percentage. Now, he's hit a new low, losing his starting spot to prospect Olivier Rodrigue.

NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed this unfortunate development during a recent appearance on Oilers Now with Bob Stauffer. According to Friedman, Rodrigue seems to have taken over the starting role from Campbell in Bakersfield.

Friedman shared,

«One of the things I'm hearing out in Bakersfield, Jack Campbell might not be the starter there, if he hasn't lost the job already. Olivier Rodrigue has got to play, so this plan that the Oilers had, that this would be a short trip down for Campbell, it's going in the other direction. I think it becomes now, how comfortable are you with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard? And if not, where are you going?»

Stauffer added,

«Jason Gregor wrote a piece earlier this week and said Ken Holland has until February 6 to get another goalie. At this stage of the game, it doesn't appear that it's going to be Campbell.»

It's disheartening to see Campbell go through this rough patch, especially given his reputation as one of the genuinely good guys in sports. He has always been a popular figure in the locker room among his teammates.