It’s been a tough week for goalie Jack Campbell, who has not only been on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday after he’s put up a 1-4-0 record this season with a .873 save percentage and a 4.50 goals-against average, but also cleared with no other NHL team willing to give him a chance.
It was to be expected as the netminder is currently in the second season of a five-year, $25 million contract signed with the Oilers as a free agent in 2022, and his stats are just abysmal. He was assigned to their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, leaving Stuart Skinner as the clear No. 1 in Edmonton’s goal.
For now.
Because, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, general manager Ken Holland met with Campbell before the waiver transaction and expects the goalie to improve and find his way back to the Oilers’ lineup during his reassignment down to the minors.
“As for Campbell, he met with Holland and was told to prepare/play as if there is a road back to Northern Alberta.”
The pressure is on for Campbell, though it isn’t the first time he needs to win back the crease in Edmonton. Last season, he was taken over by Skinner, who hasn’t been all that better in 2023-24. In the meantime, Calvin Pickard has been recalled from the Condors in an effort to shake things up and, of course, trade rumours has surfaced in Edmonton to see who could come in and fix the goaltending issue to make sure the Oilers’ season isn’t a Bust. However, cap constraints are in the way, which may give Campbell the time he needs to find his confidence, improve his play and get back in the Oilers’ dressing room.
Campbell got the start in his first Condors’ game of the season on Thursday in Abbotsford, B.C. but put up disastrous stats, allowing four goals on 20 shots and looking just plain broken…
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