“It was pretty tough,” Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell ADMITS being surprised by AHL demotion after struggling NHL season

Goaltender Jack Campbell expressed his surprise following demotion to the AHL by the Edmonton Oilers.

“It was pretty tough,” Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell ADMITS being surprised by AHL demotion after struggling NHL season

Jack Campbell (Pic Credit: AP)

The new 2023-24 season is proving to be a tough one for the Edmonton Oilers. The team is struggling to come together and play well. In a surprising move, they demoted goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL. He has now opened up about this development while finding himself with the Bakersfield Condors.

There is no surprise that he was struggling. The numbers he has produced so far this season do not look good for his reading. He did mention that he had confidence despite the slum but the stats were not good enough. All of this saw him being placed on the waivers by the team.

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"It was pretty tough, not gonna lie. I'm pretty hard on myself... Obviously, it's a results league up there - really anywhere - but I felt like I was playing well, had some confidence. But obviously, the numbers weren't good enough."
Jack Campbell as per Sportsnet.

As per the stats, Campbell currently holds a 1-4-0 record for the season. Given the Oilers are 2-9-1 for the season in 12 games, some might think it was harsh for the team to send him down to the minor affiliates. His average in both goals saved above average and goals saved above expected are some of the worst in the league for a goalie, a clear worrying sign for him.

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Jack Campbell suffers horrendous start in AHL

A player in sports is usually demoted from a major league team to a minor league one following their poor performances. With their constant struggles in the big leagues, they are sent down to give them a chance to bounce back and gain confidence again. Jack Campbell was sent down to the minor league and had the opportunity to show what he had got. However, things did not play out the way he hoped for.

Jack Campbell
Jack Campbell (Pic Credit: The Canadian Press)

The 31-year-old goalie’s struggles continued as he conceded four goals in his AHL start. He would face 20 shots on goalie as the Abbotsford Canucks, the affiliate of Vancouver Canucks destroyed their opponents in that game.

The third goal he conceded summed up the season for him so far. A poor one-timed backhand shot with no power from Nils Adam squeezed underneath him. Campbell completely fumed the save, thus making a poor showing in his first AHL start since his demotion by the Oilers.

He still has three years left after this season on his five-year contract with the team. Campbell though would be hoping to bounce back strongly in the next encounter as he prepares for a few tough games to try and make his way back into the NHL.

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