Oilers put surprising player on the block

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Felip Gosselin
January 1, 2023 (11:55)

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It's really no secret that the Oilers' defensive play has been an issue for the past few years and so has their goaltending. They'd hoped to fix this issue this summer when they signed former Maple Leafs netminder Jack Campbell for $25M over the next five years.

So far this season, Campbell has been far from a problem solver. He's even proved to be part of the problem with catastrophic tenure in front of the Oilers' net. He's been so bad that they're now, after half a season, considering moving him.

They've recently signed their promising rookie goaltender Stuart Skinner to an extension. The Oilers have a core that's eager to win, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Trading Campbell's contract would go a long way to help the Oilers add to their core. He carries a $5M AAV and if the Oilers were given that much money to spend on the market, it could definitely help them pick up a big piece for a deep playoff run. Especially since they currently have no cap space left.

Campbell is currently posting his worst numbers since entering the NHL, although showing a positive record of 8-6-1, he has a GAA of 4.03 and a 0.876 SV%. After 150 games in the NHL, Campbell has a 2.68 GAA and a 0.912 SV%. His recent performances are clearly under his usuals, though the Oilers do not have the means to spend that much money on a backup goaltender.

Plenty of teams currently have goaltending issues and could be willing to take a risk on Campbell, but his hefty contract could be tough to move if they refuse to retain part of his salary. What's the Oilers' play with this situation?