Top 11 Reasons This Year Is Different for the Toronto Maple Leafs

#11. Jack Campbell

The goalie who had the highest save percentage from January 1st 2021 to December 31st 2021, an entire calendar year that spans one entire season, and 40% of this current one, was none other than Jack Campbell.

Campbell was also the NHL’s best goalie when it comes to goals-for percentage – and it is my belief that if you could pick anyone to be your goalie for the playoffs in 2022, the best goalie of 2021 would be a pretty good choice.

That is why I believe in Jack Campbell.  That is why I wrote, prior to the trade deadline, that the Leafs should not trade for a new goalie.

Sure, Campbell has struggled since December, but his recent injury coincides with his downturn in performance.

There are even odds that even if the Leafs went all-in for a star goalie, that that goalie would come in and struggle. There is just no rhyme or reason to the goalie position, and established superstars often go on terribly cold runs, while no-name goalies are known to carry their teams to random championships.

Since you can’t know, and since you do have the guy who was most recently the best goalie in the world for almost 1.5 seasons, it’s not really a hard decision.

Jack Campbell got the Toronto Maple Leafs to where they are, he was great in last year’s playoffs, and more than that, he’s just an awesome guy.

Replacing Campbell with a mercenary would rip the hart right out of this team.

I personally would rather lose with Jack Campbell than win with anyone else.  In a world of garbage, selfish athletes, the guy is a true gem.  As a goalie or a human, he is awesome. The Toronto Maple Leafs made the right call and Jack Campbell is going to lead them to glory.