EDMONTON – Better late than never.
It is frustrating for a player to not be able to play a game for a long time. Only one current Edmonton Oilers player has not played a game this season (Evander Kane).
The same cannot be said for former Oilers.
On Friday, December 6, 2024, one former Oilers goaltender made his season debut. Jack Campbell started his first game for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Campbell signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 1, shortly after the Oilers bought out the remaining three years of his five-year, $5 million contract.
The Red Wings’ goaltending has been crowded in training camp, with Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon, Ville Husso, Sebastian Cossa and Campbell trying to earn playing time in the NHL and AHL.
Campbell pulled the short end of the stick and didn’t see any action before Oct. 4, when he entered the NHLPA Players Assistance program. He stayed there until November 17, when he received permission to return and was subsequently granted an exemption.
The 32-year-old player is no stranger to AHL competition. After playing more than 200 games, he provides experience to the Red Wings farm team.
Last season, he played in 33 games with positive results for the Bakersfield Condors. Campbell posted an 18-13-1 record with three shutouts, a 2.63 goals against average (GAA) and a .918 save percentage (SV%).
Despite how things ended with the Oilers, Campbell can still provide valuable goaltending for an AHL team. Good luck to the former Oiler.
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