The Detroit Red Wings are off to a rather mediocre start this season, but that doesn't have anything to do with their goaltending, as Cam Talbot has led the way with a solid 2.42 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
Beyond that, the team has great depth in Ville Husso and Alex Lyon, meaning that something had to give in their rotation, and with the return of Jack Campbell from the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program, he was the obvious odd man out.
On Sunday, the team confirmed that to be the case, as Elliotte Friedman first reports that the Detroit Red Wings have officially placed him on waivers.
The 32-year-old struggled mightily with the Edmonton Oilers over the past two years, causing the team to move on from him with three years left on his $5 million AAV deal that he signed three summers ago.
Now, the veteran goaltender has gotten past the thing that sent him to the NHLPA's Player Assistance Program and will have to deal with another setback as he's likely to join the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.
While there are goaltender-needy teams out there that could look to pick up the veteran, his play in recent years hasn't suggested that he could improve at the NHL level, so unfortunately for Campbell, it's very unlikely.
With a combined save percentage under .880 over his last two seasons in Edmonton, it's unclear if he will ever be a goaltender at the NHL level again, so keep a close eye on his development as he looks to find the form that once made him a highly sought after free agent.
POLL | ||
Will a rival team claim Jack Campbell on waivers from the Detroit Red Wings? | ||
Yes | 53 | 24.5 % |
No | 163 | 75.5 % |
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