Breaking: Jack Campbell expected to cash in with the Oilers
It appears as though Leafs G Jack Campbell has chosen to join former Leafs Cody Ceci, Tyson Barrie and Zack Hyman in the freezing depths of Oil Country next season. According to Kevin Weekes the netminder and Oilers have agreed to a 5-year deal in principle worth $25M, giving him a cap hit of $5M per season.
Coming off of a 31-9-6 season in which he posted a .914 save percentage and 2.64 goals against average and was named an NHL All-Star for the first time, Campbell was expected to get a massive raise from his $1.65M salary last season. While the Leafs and Campbell had discussions about an extension, it seems the Leafs were never comfortable committing to that length of a contract for a 30-year-old, late bloomer with just 135 career games and injury issues. Instead they opted for 2 years with Matt Murray, who has also battled injuries, but has more experience than Campbell and 2 Cup rings.
In Campbell, the Oilers will get one of the best humans and people in the league, and a guy that always works hard but will have to be careful with his workload - something the Leafs micromanaged and it still didn't help. As much as the Leafs and Leafs fans wanted Campbell back, this was his one chance for a big pay day and to set himself up for post hockey life and we wish him well, but man oh man, the Oilers are trying so hard to be the Leafs.
