The Leafs lose last night if not for Jack Campbell.
He stopped 24/25 shots, including some saves he had no business making in the 3rd against Tampa last night, coming off a shutout against Stanley Cup Fave’s the Vegas Knights.
NONE of that is as impressive as his post-game performance. Watch this and tell me you don’t want to be Jack Campbell when you grow up.
Jack Campbell’s humility blows my mind. pic.twitter.com/2apTjtxu2O
— Dean Blundell (@ItsDeanBlundell) November 5, 2021
What you just watched was a lesson in humility. That’s why Mitch, Auston, JT, and the rest of his teammates absolutely BEAM when they talk about him. They rarely talk about him coming out of nowhere after being picked up by Dubas a couple of years ago, to being an early Vezina candidate and the kind of goalie we haven’t seen since Cujo. They all talk about how abnormally kind, selfless, happy, down-to-earth, supportive, and deferential he is.
Jack Campbell is a human highlight reel rn. pic.twitter.com/dp6pj6tOOf
— alberto (@twistedleafs) November 5, 2021
JACK CAMPBELL AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/uzzEgKoxor
— alberto (@twistedleafs) November 5, 2021
If there’s something this entitled franchise needs more than some better D, it’s a young man like Jack Campbell. He’s WEIRDLY balanced and centered and (almost) humble to a fault. The road to the NHL’s greatest stage made him grateful for every minute he’s experiencing right now. That gratefulness OOOZES out of jack every time someone asks him about his performance.
Brian Burke called it “Blue and White disease.” I call it ego and entitlement and Jack Campbell operates without any of it.
He never talks about himself.
He never misses an opportunity to build others up.
He accepts too much responsibility, but only critiques himself, sometimes needlessly, and his words match every action I see, from stick taps to teammates who miss assignments to him thanking and praising his team off the ice after a come from behind OT win, Jack Campbell is almost the perfect teammate.
The only reason the Leafs won that game
Jack Campbell pic.twitter.com/XHrsoWgeYg
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 5, 2021
Jack is 5-2 on the season with a GAA of 1.82 and a .932 save percentage. He’s THE reason the Leafs aren’t the Montreal Canadians (3-9 and total garbage) and those chants of “SOOOOUUPY” after he makes a routine save are becoming the kind of Jack Campbell community rallying cry, too.
Some of that respect is performance-related but most of the Jack Campbell love is due to the fact Jack Campbell is an incredibly good human being.
Jack makes it easier to root for this group too. Do you see how Mitch and Auston light up when they are asked about Jack? The most animated Auston Matthews gets is when he’s asked about Campbell because he’s THAT good of a human being. Guys don’t just root for him, they become better people when they’re around him.
"He's a guy that works his tail off every day and so we're all super happy for him."
Auston Matthews joined @SNkylebukauskas post-game to discuss Jack Campbell's historic 11th straight win to start the season. #NHLonSN pic.twitter.com/x4MCS1tr4r
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 11, 2021
You get what you give and Jack can’t stop giving the best of himself to others and it’s exactly what this franchise needs. As good as he’s been, he’s been better for this team by being kind and normal, which is abnormal and incredible to watch.
