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Toronto Maple Leafs: Jack Campbell Struggles Are No Big Deal

By Stephen Nixon

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 13: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a water break against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 13: Jack Campbell #36 of the Toronto Maple Leafs takes a water break against the Montreal Canadiens during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Canadiens 2-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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It’s no secret that Toronto Maple Leafs starting goaltender Jack Campbell is struggling lately, but it’s seriously no big deal.

If you look at Jack Campbell’s stats since the New Year, they’re not very good. Despite the recent setback, the Toronto Maple Leafs have continued to win.

Even with a .899 SV% and 3.00 GAA, the Leafs are 6-1-1 in his last nine starts (stats: espn.com).

The main objective is to win, so we shouldn’t be freaking out about his stats yet and should be applauding him for what he did earlier in the season.

During Campbell’s first 22 starts, the Leafs only scored four or more goals seven times. That’s still very good, but in Campbell’s last nine starts, the team has scored four or more goals every game.

Instead of playing low-scoring defensive games, Toronto’s offense has been unstoppable. With the recent emergence of Mitch Marner, he’s put the team on his back and has helped Toronto win almost every night, despite Campbell allowing more goals than normal.

Campbell’s Struggles Came At a Great Time

Jack Campbell is an NHL All-Star is deserving of it. Would it be better if he spent this entire week resting on a beach instead of in media scrums and playing in silly All-Star festivities?

Of course.

However, it should be a huge confidence boost for his ego to be at this event surrounding the best players in the world. For a goaltender that took seven years to win his first NHL game, it’s truly impressive at how far he’s came since getting traded to the Leafs and he should be forever grateful for that opportunity.

Although Campbell’s stats have faltered and you could blame on fatigue (he’s never started this many games in a season), you should blame his opponents and who’s been playing defense.

Also, the fact that Jake Muzzin missed two out of three of this games is a big loss.

In Campbell’s worst three games where he’s allowed five goals, here’s who they were against:

  • New York Rangers:
    • NHL Ranking in Goals For: 15th
    • Defensive Pairings: Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie/Rasmus Sandin, Timothy Liljegren/Travis Dermott/Alex Biega
  • St. Louis Blues: 
    • NHL Ranking in Goals For: 6th
      Defensive Pairings: Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie/Jake Muzzin, Timothy Liljegren/Rasmus Sandin, Travis Dermott
  • Colorado Avalanche
    • NHL Ranking in Goals For: 2nd
      Defensive Pairings: Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie/Jake Muzzin, Justin Holl/Rasmus Sandin, Travis Dermott

During the Rangers game, the Leafs bottom-six essentially consisted of three rookies and it showed. Liljegren and Sandin played awful, while Dermott and Biega weren’t much better.

Toronto was without Justin Holl for their game against the Blues, who are underrated offensive and they still won the game. Meanwhile, despite allowing five goals against the Avalanche, Campbell made 44 saves and was very good in the loss.

As much as I want to criticize Campbell for his recent play, it’s justified when you look at the defensive pairings and who their opponents have been.

It’s truly remarkable that Campbell still has a 21-6-3 record, 2.30 GAA and .925 SV%, with four shutouts this year and he’s receiving flack for his dip in performance, but that’s Toronto for you.

Next. Maybe the Leafs Shouldn't Trade Marner. dark

If the Toronto Maple Leafs can bolster their top-four defensive pairings and give Campbell more rest down the stretch, this should be a very dangerous team in the spring and we should all be excited to see what they do in the playoffs.

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