The National Hockey League and its Players’ Association have announced Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell has entered the Player Assistance Program and will be away from the team indefinitely. Campbell signed a one-year, $775K contract with the Red Wings on the opening day of free agency this past offseason.
It’s an unfortunate turnaround for Campbell as he had hoped to rebuild his value on a one-year contract in Detroit after a disappointing 2023-24 season with the Edmonton Oilers. Campbell signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Oilers after a 2021-22 season in which he earned a .914 save percentage in 49 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Campbell would only see two years of his five-year, $25MM contract in Edmonton.
The team bought him out at the end of the 2023-24 season after Campbell posted a 22-13-4 record in 39 starts from 2022-24 with a .886 SV% and 3.53 goals-against average. The Oilers sent Campbell down to their AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, after only five games last year and he proved much better in the minor leagues. He secured an 18-13-1 record with the Condors in 33 games with a .918 SV% and 2.63 GAA in his first AHL competition since 2018-19.
Campbell was always likely to find himself with the Red Wings’ AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, with the team having one of the most crowded creases in the league. Detroit was poised to enter the 2024-25 NHL season with Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, and prospect Sebastian Cossa already under contract and brought in Campbell and Cam Talbot over the offseason. Campbell will now look to the Player Assistance Program for help and work through whatever he is going through.
Being a bad NHLer doesn’t mean he’s a bad person.
Yes, him and his agent bit off more than Jack could chew, and now he seems to be feeling the repercussions.
Not his fault the oilers were poorly run. I hope he gets better.
If I go to a bad company and ask for more money than I’m worth, I don’t expect much sympathy when I fail.
How would you know you were overpaid until you tried and failed?
He was absolutely loved by his LAK teammates. Hope he’s getting the help he needs.
Absolutely. As soon as the Leafs got to know him as well as Kings did he was basically the most popular teammate in that room. This news is heartbreaking knowing what a good dude he is and how highly people think of him. Really hope he comes out the other side of this feeling healthy and in a good place.
Shame on the timing.
Blomqvist isn’t ready yet, I think there is a good chance Dubas would have claimed him or traded FC for him to back up Jarry while Ned is hurt.