When the Oilers sent Jack Campbell down the minors, it was a last-ditch attempt to let the goaltender find his game, and return to the NHL to make good on his $5M annual salary. Instead, thing have taken an unbelievable turn for the worse.
On today's edition of the Jeff Marek Show, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman confirmed that Campbell has now lost the starting goaltender job with the Bakersfield Condors. His 4-6-0 record with a .888 save percentage is simply not good enough, especially when the team has another positive option.
Now, this is becoming a bittersweet story. While Campbell and seems more lost than ever, and a return to the NHL is entirely questionable, the Oilers have another prospect in the minors that's commanding the starting goalie job. Olivier Rodrigue, selected in the second round of the 2018 draft by the Oilers, is now developing into a promising goalie in the AHL, and deserves the starts more than Campbell. In 7 games this season, Rodrigue has an amazing 2.14 GAA and .938 save percentage.
With Campbell now unable to earn playing time even in the AHL, the team is looking for options to get out of his contract. In recent days, insiders have reported that the price the Oilers would have to pay to get out of his contract may be so high that the team elects for a buy-out this summer instead, and use the assets in trade to improve this year. Unfortunately for the Oilers, it looks like Campbell will remain on the books for at least the rest of the season.
