Flames finally cry Wolf, Kraken doing it Wright, and a crestfallen Campbell will look for a fresh start with the Condors
The 2023-24 season trucks along in the National Hockey League and its sister affiliate AHL. As teams ride through the rigors of rising and falling player stock, and lineups crippled by the injury bug, teams often call on their A-filliate to help fill voids on the roster.
Three such major cases took place this week, two involving long-awaited call-ups, and one goalie swap that generated major headlines, despite the necessity involved:
Campbell to the Condors
The demotion to Bakersfield for much-maligned goaltender Jack Campbell could be a welcomed opportunity to breathe for the one-time heir apparent to the Leafs and Oilers crease.
The Oilers, to be blunt, have been a tire-fire early, going 2-8-1 to start the season, with Campbell imploding through five starts with a horrific stat-line of 4.50 GAA and .873 SP.
Edmonton responded in kind yesterday by sending him to the Condors, and recalling veteran Calvin Pickard, who through four games in the AHL this season has put together a solid 2.03 GAA and .939 SP.
Hopefully, the fall from grace can allow for a proper reset for Campbell, who can fine-tune his game away from the bright lights and cut-throat fans and media in Oil Country.
Flames Cry Wolf
It took entirely longer than it should have, but the Flames have finally cried Wolf.
Dustin Wolf, the not-so-secret future number-one goaltending option in Calgary, has lit the AHL on fire this season, putting up a 2.34 GAA with .924 SP in five wins through six games played with the Wranglers.
Wolf joins a Flames roster looking to find itself to start the young 2023-24 NHL season, backstopped by sub-bar goaltending from the tandem of Jacob Markstrom and Daniel Vladar. The Flames currently sit at 4-7-1 with a -11 GF/GA differential.
Northland HockeyWright-ing the Ship in Seattle
We doubt Shane Wright would envision things shaking out the way it has to start his professional career.
Suiting up for only eight games with the Kraken last season before splitting the rest of 2022-23 with the AHL's Coachella Valley Firebirds and OHL's Windsor Spitfires, the fourth overall draft pick in 2022 (and long-projected number one) has more than proved himself NHL-ready with his performance this season, putting up four goals and six points in seven games in the American League this season.
Wright was granted a special exemption to play in the AHL this season and not Windsor per NHL transfer rules regarding teenage prospects.
He is expected to suit up tonight against the Avalanche.