Goalkeeper Jack Campbell embraces high hopes with Edmonton Oilers – Edmonton
Jack Campbell settled into his new home in Edmonton a few days ago, but he’s already noticing a difference from his previous NHL stops in Toronto and Los Angeles.
“There’s no traffic,” Campbell said Friday morning at Rogers Place. “It’s an easy drive to the ice rink.
“Great food so far. I can’t wait to get to know each other again.”
The 30-year-old goalkeeper joined the Oilers in July and signed as a free agent for five years and $25 million. He has excelled with the Maple Leafs for the past two seasons, going 48-12-18 with seven shutouts, a 0.916 save rate and a 2.49 average conceded.
“I think he will be very good for us,” said Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. “He has shown in recent years that he can be a very good goalkeeper in this competition.
“As a man, he is very nice. He is a special person.”
“I can’t wait to get started with this group,” Campbell said. “Everyone seems great to me.
“Seeing them in the playoffs last year gave us a lot of fuel to keep it going this year.”
Campbell lives up to the expectations he had as a teenager. He helped the United States win gold at the 2010 World Juniors. He was drafted eleventh overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. However, he played only sparingly for the Stars before being traded to the Kings in 2016. The Kings traded him to the Leafs in February 2020.
“I knew all along that I could be a No. 1 keeper,” Campbell said. “It’s not just a number 1 goalkeeper. My goal is to be the best I can be and help this team win a Stanley Cup.
“Getting that chance in Toronto to be a No. 1 guy made me feel like I’ve been looking for my entire career.”
Campbell is the Oilers’ biggest off-season asset. Most of the team from last season’s run to the NHL’s West Final will return.
“There is some notoriety,” Draisaitl explained.
“I think everyone kind of knows what they’re getting into and the kind of game we want to play. That makes it easier sometimes, especially at the start of the season.”
