Former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell is heading back to his home state of Michigan, as the netminder signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings, the club announced Monday.
Though there were high expectations for Campbell to become the solution for the Oilers in net in the summer of 2022, he never panned out to be the answer. Over two seasons in Edmonton, he appeared in just 41 games. Campbell had a record of 22-13-4 with a goals-against average of 3.53 and a save percentage of .886 over his two seasons with the club.
In the 2023-24 season, he was placed on waivers for the purpose of assignment after a disappointing 1-4 record with a .873 save percentage and a 4.50 goals-against average. The Oilers started 2-9-1 and Campbell would spend most of the season with the Bakersfield Condors in the AHL, appearing in 33 games and producing an 18-13-1 record paired with a 2.63 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
Campbell hasn’t looked like his normal self ever since he departed Toronto in July of 2022. The former first-round pick spent three seasons in the blue and white appearing in 77 games and earning a record of 51-14-9 with a goals-against average of 2.50 and a save percentage of .916. In his final season with the Leafs, it was the best of his career, posting a 31-9-6 record through 49 games.
With a change of scenery, perhaps an opportunity may arise behind Alex Lyon and Ville Husso, who are both under contract with the Red Wings for the 2024-25 season.
