Former Oilers goaltender officially announces NHL retirement

After eight National Hockey League campaigns and 176 regular-season games, Jack Campbell announced his retirement from hockey on social media on Sunday.

The 34-year-old last played for the Edmonton Oilers, appearing in five games in 2023-24 before being placed on waivers and eventually having his contract bought out.

“Walking away from hockey wasn’t easy. It gave me more than I could have ever imagined. But over the last few years, I realized the work that brought me the most fulfillment wasn’t stopping pucks — it was helping people become who they’re capable of becoming,” Campbell wrote.

“I’m incredibly grateful to begin this next chapter as a coach. I can’t wait to walk alongside athletes, leaders, and high performers as they create bigger visions for their lives and become the people those visions require.”

Originally selected 11th overall by the Dallas Stars in the 2010 NHL Draft, Campbell played one game with the team, but won the Calder Cup with the American Hockey League’s Texas Stars in 2014.

He made his NHL debut at age 21, but didn’t establish himself as a full-time NHL goaltender until he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2016. He earned that opportunity in 2018 after Jonathan Quick suffered an injury.

Campbell played some of his best hockey at that time, appearing in 31 games and posting a .928 save percentage and 2.30 goals against average.

That play caught the eye of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who traded for him in February of 2020. He settled in nicely as the Leafs’ backup behind Frederik Andersen, but eventually earned the starting role after winning 11 straight games.

Campbell was an NHL All-Star in 2021-22, managing a terrific .914 SV% and 2.64 GAA in 49 games, while winning 31 of them. He also recorded five shutouts.

Boosted by that excellent campaign, Campbell signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers in July of 2022.

But his time in Edmonton never went as planned. He struggled to replicate his All-Star form, was eventually assigned to the Bakersfield Condors, and later had the remainder of his contract bought out.

He signed a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings ahead of the 2024-25 campaign, but never got into a game with them, suiting up for 14 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins instead.

Overall, his NHL record stands at 93-52-18.

Campbell now begins the next chapter of his life as a coach with Novus Global.