Former Maple Leafs Goaltender Jack Campbell Retires From NHL

After eight seasons played in the NHL, former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell announced he was retiring on Sunday. 

Campbell was considered to be a starting goalie in the NHL at one point until his tenure in Toronto wrecked his mental health. The lack of consistency would later define the latter part of his NHL career, as he became a journeyman, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, and eventually playing his last professional hockey in the AHL with the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

He'd enter the NHL/NHLPA Players Assistance Program in Oct. 2024 prior to concluding his career in 2024-25 with the Griffins. 

Campbell played 176 games in the NHL, split between the Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Edmonton Oilers. His career totals are: 93-52-18, 2.76 goals-against average, and a .909 save percentage. 

"I grew up my entire life chasing one dream and that was to play in the NHL," Campbell said in a video posted on his Instagram account. "I was fortunate enough to accomplish that goal of playing eight seasons in the NHL, becoming an NHL All-Star (2021-22) and thankfully on paper, living a pretty awesome life. Super grateful for my days of playing but what a lot of people don't see is the personal battles that I went through throughout my career. Not having somebody to hold me accountable for having a well-balanced life, that's when I found four years ago my life coach, who's completely changed everything for me."

Moving on from the sport of hockey is a tough decision, and for many players who career fizzled out before their time, they have to find a new trade. Campbell has taken the next step in his career, becoming an identity and performance 

"Walking away from hockey wasn't easy," Campbell said. "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 was drafted 11th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars, and his most successful season came in 2021-22, where he ended the year with a 31-9-6 record, a.914 save percentage, and a 2.64 GAA.