Brutal blow to Jack Campbell’s confidence ahead of postseason

The Edmonton Oilers rolled past the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night, getting the 7-4 win with goaltender Stuart Skinner in net. Because the season has been tough on goalie Jack Campbell…

As the Oilers are making the Pacific Division playoff race even tighter in the last stretch of the regular season, we cannot credit Campbell with any of it…

And if you think this is tough on Campbell, you need to see the evaluation he was given by insider Pierre LeBrun in his latest column in the Athletic: Grading the NHL’s best and worst offseason goalie moves.

Yes, Campbell is the one with the lowest grade, an F, not even a passing one, and the comments by LeBrun and former NHL goalie and goalie coach Jamie McLennan won’t boost his confidence ahead of the postseason…

“[…] he reasoning and the process that led to the Campbell signing, in my mind, was sound. But the result has not been so far. And the lack of confidence Campbell has in himself at times is noticeable.”

“But flat out, he’s not performed this year, there’s no getting around it,” adds McLennan.

While LeBrun won’t write him off, he believes Campbell needs to reset in the summer to come back better in 2023-24. Not encouraging for the goalie and the Oilers as the postseason is just around the corner.

It can’t be as discouraging as GM Ken Holland’s decision to sign Campbell to a five-year, $25 million deal in free agency with the Oilers last summer.

Let’s hope next season his grade will come up, or else he needs to go!

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