Campbell's agent has apparently sabotaged negotiations with the Leafs to try to get a better deal elsewhere; is he guilty of tampering?
The Leafs and Jack Campbell's camp, including agent Kurt Overhardt, have been holding cordial conversations the past few weeks to try and work out a new deal. However, it appears now that Campbell will be hitting the open market unless something magical happens in the next day or two.
Much has been made about the conversations or lack thereof, between Dubas and Campbell, but it appears it is for the dumbest reason. According to Elliotte Friedman on his "32 Thoughts" podcast, Campbell's agent, Kurt Overhardt, was not thrilled with the last offer the Leafs presented Campbell because the third year of the deal was less than $1M in salary. Front-loading a deal or loading one with signing bonuses is not uncommon and we often see that in deals for older players because it's easier to move them if it doesn't work out.
It would seem that Overhardt wasn't happy with the idea of a contract that would be easy to move in a couple of years if things didn't workout and according to Friedman, he jacked up the asking price for Campbell, essentially ending negotiations and setting Campbell up to cash in on a bigger and longer contract, presumably in Edmonton - where half of the Leafs from 2019/2020 play now apparently. One has to wonder - if Campbell DOES end up going to Edmonton on a pre-arranged deal by Overhardt, would the NHL pursue a tampering investigation?
As much as this is Jack Campbell's one big pay day, to have your agent end negotiations with your current team because the agent wasn't happy with the structure is kind of moronic. It's one thing for Jack not to like the deal and to instruct his agent to pursue a deal elsewhere. It's another thing entirely for the agent to take matters into their own hands and potentially cost his client a deal with a team who he has been very vocal about wanting to stay with. We all know agents make a percentage off of their clients' deals, so you have to wonder whether or not Overhardt is negotiating for Campbell or for himself here.
They're called negotiations for a reason. Maybe there is the slightest bit of hope the Leafs are able re-sign Campbell by Wednesday at noon ET. If not, he'll head to the open market and likely cash in elsewhere.
