Former Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers goaltender Jack Campbell has announced his retirement from professional hockey at 34, confirming the news via an update to his Instagram bio.
In a video where he discussed his career and personal struggles behind the scenes, he now describes himself simply as a “former NHL goaltender” and an “identity and performance coach.” His goal is to help others get through what he needed help getting through.
Campbell’s career was full of fascinating twists and turns. Selected by the Dallas Stars as the highest-drafted goaltender in franchise history (#11 in 2010), he played only one game for the Stars before joining the Los Angeles Kings. He played 56 games as a King before going to Toronto. His numbers for both the Kings and the Maple Leafs were solid. It led to him signing a lucrative deal with the Edmonton Oilers.
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On the heels of a season where he played 49 games, posted a 2.64 goals against average and a .914 save percentage, Edmonton gave him a five-year, $25 million deal as a free agent in 2022 — but the fit never worked. He lost the starting job almost immediately, was eventually sent to the AHL, and was bought out by the Oilers after just two seasons.
In October 2024, while with the Detroit Red Wings, Campbell entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program for an indefinite period, a program that supports players dealing with anything from substance issues to mental health struggles. He never played in the NHL again.
What stands out now, in retirement, is how openly Campbell has spoken about his struggles. He wants to apply what he’s learned when he said it took him getting a life coach to find his way, and help others. His path from a “can’t-miss prospect” to burned-out backup did a number on him personally. It took him time to get back on track, never being able to get there in terms of becoming an NHL goalie again.
It’s good to see that he’s found a new path and seems to be doing well.
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