Toronto Maple Leafs superstar center Auston Matthews took the ice for the club's optional morning skate on Saturday. But when will he return to game action? The Detroit Red Wings have placed former Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Jack Campbell on waivers, as reported by Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. Campbell, a Michigan native, joined the Red Wings on a one-year, $775,000 contract this past summer. This signing came after the Edmonton Oilers bought out the remainder of his five-year, $25 million deal signed in 2022. On October 4, the NHL and NHLPA announced Campbell’s enrollment in the player assistance program. Under Stage 1 of the program, the goaltender was under no penalty and was unavailable to the Red Wings for an indefinite period of time. The move to waivers likely signals that Campbell has completed the program. Campbell's NHL career reached its peak during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in February 2020, he emerged as a key player during the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season. When Frederik Andersen was sidelined with an injury, Campbell seized the starting role and set a Maple Leafs record with 11 consecutive wins. He posted a stellar 17-3-2 record, a .921 save percentage, and a 2.15 goals-against average, helping Toronto capture the North Division title. However, the Leafs were stunned in the first round of the playoffs, falling to the Montreal Canadiens. In 2021-22, Campbell earned his first NHL All-Star Game selection, but injuries and a heavy workload hampered his performance later in the season. He finished with a 31-9-6 record, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.64 goals-against average. Despite his efforts, the Leafs were eliminated in a seven-game series against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
