Jack Campbell has struggled this year in the NHL, and now he appears to be struggling even more, hinting at his long road to returning to NHL hockey.
Jack Campbell was slated as the Oilers scapegoat for their slow start to the season. With troubling numbers in the NHL, Campbell was quickly demoted to the Oilers AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. Campbell is signed to a $5 million AAV contract, so Oilers fans were hopeful that a quick stint in the AHL would give Campbell the confidence to make a return to the NHL.
Now, it appears that might not be the case. In two starts for Bakersfield, Campbell's stats look not unlike his NHL statline, which is troubling for the goaltender.
Campbell was viewed as one of the better goalies in the league prior to this season, and when he signed his 5 year, $25 million contract, the deal didn't look too overpriced. With his numbers in the AHL, though, it doesn't look like Campbell will be helping the Oilers anytime soon, and that money is wasting away in the minors when it could be more efficiently allocated to Oilers stars coming into free agency. Draisaitl and McDavid are two names that come to mind that could use every extra penny the Oilers have to offer.