Jack Campbell Calls His Performance With Oilers ‘Pathetic’

Jack Campbell Calls His Performance With Oilers ‘Pathetic’

Jack Campbell was supposed to be the goalie to lift the Oilers to the next level. AKA a Stanley Cup lifted by Connor McDavid. Since signing a hefty contract with Edmonton this offseason, Campbell has simply been outplayed by young backup Stuart Skinner.

If there is any good news, it sounds like Campbell is pissed and is very accountable. Campbell called his early season performance with Edmonton as ‘pathetic’.

“I just haven’t brought my best,” Campbell said postgame. “Frankly, it’s just been pathetic the way I’ve been playing. I owe it to this team to bring my A-game, and they haven’t seen it yet.”

Campbell gave up six to Dallas yesterday including this ugly one to Colin Miller. A .874 save percentage and a 4.20 goals-against average through eight games tells a lot of the story. More than anything, giving up the ugly ones are the ones reporters are going to ask you about. This one right here stinks.

The Oilers are going to keep playing Skinner more and more with the way he’s playing. The 24-year-old rookie currently sports a .944 save percentage and 2.10 goals-against average in five contests. As I mentioned in my last fantasy blog, if Skinner is available, go get him. Don’t be afraid to cut someone like a Thatcher Demko to go do it.

It’s obviously early in the season. Now is not the time to hit the panic button on Campbell. It’s a long season and you feel as if Campbell will be more reliable when it counts. Either way, you feel better about this situation than you did a year ago with dinosaur Mike Smith and Mikko Koskinen. Neither are even in the league anymore. Don’t forget, Campbell suffered a cold streak a year ago in Toronto before figuring it out down the stretch.