Jack Campbell named Condors Player of the Week after allowing just one goal across two starts

The five-year, $25 million deal was always a questionable one, but Campbell had a rough go of things in 2022-23 with the Edmonton Oilers. That season, the netminder had an .888 save percentage and a 3.41 goals-against average, eventually losing the crease to rookie netminder Stuart Skinner.

Still, there were positive moments for Campbell that season, including a 27-save performance in game four of the Western Conference quarterfinals. At this time, the Oilers were down two games to one to the Los Angeles Kings and had a disastrous first period, as Skinner allowed three goals. 

To start the second period, Campbell came on and allowed a single goal on 28 shots, helping the Oilers win 5-4 and tie the series. They never looked back, as they won Game 6 to end the Kings’ season for the second consecutive season.

That said, the Oilers’ patience for their $25 million man was on thin ice, and after an .873 save percentage and a 4.50 goals-against average in his first five games, Campbell was sent to the American Hockey League.

After a rough start down there, Campbell now has a .915 save percentage and a 2.77 goals-against average in 26 games. He and prospect netminder Olivier Rodrigue have formed an effective tandem for Edmonton’s AHL team, as Rodrigue has played the same number of games with a .918 save percentage and a 2.69 goals-against average.

The question is, will Campbell get another shot in the National Hockey League this season? Well, it doesn’t look likely as his replacement, Calvin Pickard, has played well with the Oilers. In 14 games this season, Pickard has a .919 save percentage and a 2.27 goals-against average, along with a 9-4-0 record and two shutouts. Pickard would also have to clear through waivers in order to be assigned to the Condors, and it seems unlikely, given how he’s played, that nobody would put in a claim.  

At this point, the Oilers should be looking ahead to the 2024-25 season in regards to Campbell, as they’ll have a decision to make. If they believe the confidence has returned, they can give him another shot with the team to play a 1B role with Skinner. On the other hand, the Oilers could buy out Campbell and save themselves $3.9 million next season, $2.7 million in 2025-26, and $2.4 million in 2026-27 before a cap hit of $1.5 for the following three seasons.

Either way, the Oilers netminder situation is in a good spot. Skinner has played well this season after a rough start. Pickard has played a lot better than most expected, and I still give him credit for, myself included. Campbell has seemingly found his game in the American Hockey League, but it’s yet to be determined if it’ll translate to the National Hockey League. Not only that, but Olivier Rodrigue is starting to look like a dude, as his .918 save percentage is tied for the eighth-highest in the AHL.