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A solution to the Jack Campbell problem

By Phil Gretzky

Dec 1, 2022; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell (36) makes a save during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 1, 2022; Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA; Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell (36) makes a save during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

IMO Binnington as a goaltender is a better fit for the Edmonton Oilers right now than Campbell is. Binnington may be struggling this season, but most of the roster in St. Louis is singing the blues (sorry that was a little punny).

Most of all he is a Stanley Cup winner, being the starter who led the Blues to their cup win in his rookie season, so he knows what it takes to win. Interestingly enough, even though he is a year younger than Campbell he is actually more experienced, having played in 182 NHL games as opposed to Campbell who has only played in 148.

The Edmonton Oilers could use that experience in their mission to win the Cup. Unfortunately Binnington hasn’t been able to duplicate that success from his rookie season. He followed that up with a .912 sv%, then a .910, then .901 last season and .889 so far this season. Predictably his GAA has been rising as well, from 1.89 to 2.56 to 2.65 to 3.13 last season and 3.42 so far this season.

It seems to me that Binnington is crying out for a fresh start.

He would be playing on a better team here, so that should help to buoy his stats if he’s up for it.

There’s also weird stuff like this which could be embarrassing the Blues as a franchise. A trade has a way of humbling players who are misbehaving – just ask Taylor Hall.

If Binnington comes here and plays like he did his rookie season the Edmonton Oilers would have a starting goaltender who’s playing better for the exact same cap hit with Cup winning experience.

If Binnington can take the Edmonton Oilers on his back like he did with the Blues in 2019 there’s a good chance the Cup would be ours for the first time in over 30 years. That would be something.

If Binnington continues to falter at least we’re no worse off then we were before. IMO this is a calculated risk that would work well for us.

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