Toronto Maple Leafs: Time to Give Jack Campbell the Net

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Calgary Flames and one of the main reasons was the return of goaltender Jack Campbell, who earned a shutout.

Usual Toronto Maple Leafs starter Frederik Andersen reportedly missed the game due to injury, but even if he was healthy the team made the right decision to let Campbell play – being rewarded with his usual reliable play and a much-needed victory.

Andersen has come under fire for some questionable performances in recent weeks, with the Leafs winning just one game (4-3 OT against the Winnipeg Jets) in their past seven games, seeing teams below them in the North Division suddenly close the points gap at an alarming rate.

With Campbell eased back into things after his injury, he was ready to go and helped guide the team to a win that keeps them atop the division thanks to having played two games fewer than the Edmonton Oilers.

Campbell Deserves To Keep The Starting Job

The victory gives Campbell four wins on the season, in four games, with the former LA Kings goaltender providing some needed stability and consistency despite his battles with injuries.

Since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, Campbell holds a 7-2-1 record and has put up some impressive numbers that have even seen him mentioned alongside the great Terry Sawchuk, with both registering below a 2.00 goals against average in their first ten games with the Leafs.

Campbell’s ten games for Toronto sees him hold a 1.98 GAA and an impressive .934 save percentage, with a whopping EIGHT of his starts being classified as ‘Quality Starts’. (All stats via Hockey Reference).

This season alone, Campbell has a 1.00 GAA and a .965 save percentage, giving the Leafs some of the best goaltending they have seen this season, whereas Andersen has struggled to emulate the performances he had become known for.  The impending UFA’s stat line of .897 save percentage and a GAA of 2.97 are both career lows, and the impressive record of 13-8-2 has largely been due to the team’s high offensive style.

With Andersen seemingly struggling with some confidence, and potentially having carried an undisclosed injury, it’s time to let Campbell have a shot at keeping the starting role for the foreseeable future.

Campbell has a calming presence on the Toronto Maple Leafs, fans love him and his teammates also appear to hold him in high esteem, even looking calmer when he is in the net.

He has two shutouts in four starts this season, including his last two games, but has dealt with injuries throughout that have prevented him from playing a larger role during this shortened season.

Now that he is back, the team will need to manage his health cautiously and give him a run of games to truly settle himself into holding the net for a longer period of time, while Andersen potentially rests and recovers from his ailment.

Even when Andersen returns, however, the Leafs should seriously consider whether or not putting him back in is the right decision, if Campbell is able to continue playing at his currently consistent rate.

Poor positioning and decisions from Andersen have put a serious question mark over his future with the team, even when it comes to the impending trade deadline, so it would not be surprising to see Campbell given the majority of opportunities moving forward as the team looks to secure a division title and head into a potentially deep playoff run.