In a surprising turn of events, the Edmonton Oilers have placed goaltender Jack Campbell on unconditional waivers, signaling their intent to buy him out just two years after signing him as a prized free agent.
The decision to buy out Campbell, who signed a lucrative five-year, $5 million per year contract in 2022, will result in dead salary cap space for the Oilers for the next six seasons. According to CapFriendly, the buyout will cost the Oilers $1.1 million in cap space in 2024-25, with that figure increasing to $2.3 million in 2025-26 and $2.6 million in 2026-27 before decreasing to $1.5 million for the remaining three years. The buyout will finally come off the Oilers‘ payroll after the 2029-30 season, leaving them with significant cap space to address their needs as they aim to secure their first title since 1990.
Campbell’s future with the Oilers has been in question for some time, particularly after a slow start to the season. Beginning with a 1-4 record, a 4.50 goals-against average, and a .873 save percentage, Campbell found himself on waivers for assignment as part of the Oilers‘ dismal 2-9-1 start. Despite the coaching change that saw Jay Woodcroft replaced by Kris Knoblauch, Campbell remained with the AHL affiliate for the remainder of the season, only rejoining the Oilers as a depth option during the playoffs. His underwhelming performance in the first year of his contract, coupled with the emergence of stronger goaltending options, ultimately led to his downfall.
During the 2022-23 season, Campbell posted a 21-9-4 record but struggled with a 3.41 goals-against average and a lackluster .888 save percentage. As rookie Stuart Skinner began to excel, Campbell was quickly overshadowed and eventually replaced as the Oilers‘ top goaltending choice. When Campbell was initially demoted, the Oilers turned to Calvin Pickard, who, along with Skinner, formed a reliable tandem that brought stability to the team. Pickard’s recent two-year contract extension means that both he and Skinner will be with the Oilers through the 2025-26 season, ensuring continuity in the goaltending position.
The Edmonton Oilers‘ decision to buy out Jack Campbell reflects a bold move to address their goaltending needs and create room for new opportunities. Despite Campbell’s initial potential, his performance ultimately fell short of expectations, leading to the rise of Skinner and Pickard as the team’s preferred goaltending duo. As the Oilers strive to reclaim past glory and compete for the championship, this decision represents a strategic shift towards building a stronger and more competitive team for the future.
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