Jack Campbell Reportedly Targeted by Division Rival in Trade Talks

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Skyler Walker
March 22, 2023 (11:30)

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The Edmonton Oilers are currently on 'full-steam' mode heading into the 2022-23 playoffs, but a few pieces remain on the edge. Jack Campbell being the main piece on the edge, who started his first game in 20 days on Monday, and let in the first shot on goal.

If you look at the past Stanley Cup winning teams' rosters, they evolve around an elite-level goaltender combo, or goaltenders who really step it up a notch come post-season. For the Avalanche, last years cup winners, Darcey Kuemper and Pascal Francouz were the key to the Avalanche's Cup run.

Kuemper was injured long-term during the playoffs and Francouz sealed the deal with a shutout and several solid-performances, will Jack Campbell be able to carry the pressure on his back if Skinner goes down? Many don't think so...

Come this off-season the Oilers will have to make a tough decision, do they ride with a non-confident Jack Campbell between the pipes, who they signed last summer to a 5 year x $5 million annual salary? Many teams do not have a backup goaltender of that price range, and if the Oilers would like to improve in other positions (such as a new defensemen) cap space will need to be shredded.

Lead senior writer for the San Jose Sharks, Eric Duhatschek, seems to have a solution:

I wonder if the solution doesn't revolve around the Oilers' underachieving but occasionally exciting Jack Campbell. The Oilers signed Campbell last summer for five years at $5 million in the hopes he would emerge as their true No. 1. No matter how they tried, they couldn't get Campbell to seize the job. So now, it looks as if it's full speed ahead with Stuart Skinner for the rest of this year and probably for the foreseeable future. Campbell's contract then becomes an albatross they need to send away.

Why not San Jose? The Sharks' goaltending hasn't been great this year, and James Reimer is 34, and unrestricted following this season. Kaapo Kahkonen had a decent February, followed by a mediocre March, but he is signed for another year at $2.75 million and could work as a 1B.

The Sharks would be able to absorb all of Campbell's contract and give him a chance at getting his career back on track in a relatively stress-free atmosphere of a clearly rebuilding team.

And if Edmonton gets Campbell off the books and can find a cheap backup to Skinner � say Dan Vladar, if Calgary makes him available for trade this summer because Dustin Wolf is ready to play in the NHL � then suddenly, that Karlsson cap hit may be a little more manageable.

Maybe the Sharks need to eat only $2 million of the deal and then Edmonton can part with the two or three young assets San Jose will be looking for, like Phillip Broberg, Xavier Bourgault etc.

-Eric Duhatschek. Senior Writer, NHL

Source: Bladeofsteel.com