Jack Campbell sent to AHL as Oilers try to right a sinking ship

7 Nov 2023

Edmonton Journal

Goaltending has been woefully bad in Edmonton and while there is no guarantee a minor league stopper will be able to step in and make things better, things can’t get any worse.

Jack Campbell - Figure 1 — Photo Edmonton Journal

Published Nov 07, 2023 • 1 minute read

Goalie Jack Campbell (36) of the Edmonton Oilers, against the Las Vegas Golden Knights at Rogers Place in Edmonton on May 8, 2023 Photo by Shaughn Butts /Postmedia

The desperate measures these desperate times have been screaming for are starting to happen.

The first shoe dropped Tuesday afternoon when the Edmonton Oilers shipped floundering net minder Jack Campbell to the Bakersfield Condors to make room for one of their minor league keepers, likely Calvin Pickard.

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Goaltending has been woefully bad in Edmonton and while there is no guarantee a minor league stopper will be able to step in and make things better, things can’t get any worse.

Edmonton is dead last in the NHL in save percentage as Campbell (.873) and Skinner (.856) struggle to find footing behind a team that isn’t doing much of anything to help them. Campbell has one win in five starts, Skinner has one win in six.

Jack Campbell - Figure 2 — Photo Edmonton Journal

While both of them could do well to spend a few weeks in the minors, Campbell has the higher salary at $5 million a year and there is no risk he’ll get claimed on waivers. It might also be very good for him to see a lot of action in the AHL to get his game and his confidence back.

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Jack Campbell - Figure 3 — Photo Edmonton Journal

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Pickard, meanwhile, is a 31-year-old former second-round draft pick (49th overall in 2010) of the Colorado Avalanche. He is 2-2 this season with a .939 save percentage in Bakersfield.

Bakersfield’s Olivier Rodrigue (68th overall in 2018) is also having a strong start. He is 2-0 with a .968 save percentage.

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