EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Jack Campbell’s road trip began on Feb. 2.
He packed one suit for work, one casual outfit for dinners and had no idea that his life was about to be turned upside down with a trade to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
More than a month later he’s finally returned to Los Angeles with a chance to tie up loose ends. There’s two important points on the line at Staples Center Thursday night, sure, but the 28-year-old goalie had some pressing business to take care of beforehand.
"I get to get some clothes," he said.
Not that he’s complaining. Campbell simply doesn’t have that in him. He’d be a wealthy man if he could bottle and sell his natural ‘whatever-will-be, will-be’ attitude.
He didn’t even go on a shopping spree after arriving in Toronto with the loosely packed suitcase. In a move true to the man and his unique path to the Leafs crease, he simply made due with what he had.
"I ordered a pair of socks on Amazon and that’s about it," said Campbell.
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The Leafs are fortunate they got him when they did.
It is no stretch to suggest that Campbell played an important role in keeping their season from veering off the rails at an inflection point. The organization had lost total faith in former backup Michael Hutchinson and starter Frederik Andersen was out injured when general manager Kyle Dubas acquired Campbell and veteran winger Kyle Clifford in the middle of a game — a 5-3 loss to the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden that left the Leafs out of a playoff spot.
Campbell came in and immediately went 3-0-1, helping bridge the gap until Andersen returned to health while banking points that have given Toronto a small cushion over Florida in the Atlantic Division standings.
As fate would have it, Campbell actually watched the end of that Leafs-Rangers game on TV before receiving a call from Kings general manager Rob Blake with news of the trade. He had just returned from his last supper with former teammates in Manhattan — a large group that included Anze Kopitar, Drew Doughty and goaltending partner Jonathan Quick, among others — and was completely caught off-guard by the news.
Quick came to his hotel room and they had a reflective conversation before parting ways. On the surface they had little in common — the intensely competitive former Conn Smythe winner and the easy-going journeyman who took nearly a decade to find his way — but they shared a special partnership with the Kings.
It was built on a shared ethic of how best to approach the job.
"You know, we both are pretty responsible guys. Accountable, I guess, is the word,” said Campbell. “I just think we both take it on ourselves. Like there’s no finger-pointing.”
That’s a big reason why he’s become so popular, so quickly, with his new team. Campbell took ownership of a late tying goal allowed to Marco Scandella late in the third period during a 2-1 overtime loss to Montreal on Feb. 8 despite the Leafs being outshot 19-2 after the second intermission.
He fell on the sword again after Tuesday’s 5-2 loss in San Jose — one which saw the team outplayed for basically the entire second period.
And you know there will be no hard feelings stemming from Sheldon Keefe’s decision to start Andersen here on Thursday night. As much as he’d love to face his former team, that’s just not how he operates.
“He’s like over-the-top positive,” said Kings defenceman Drew Doughty. “Jack will do anything for anyone and it almost gets to the point that you’re going up to him like, ‘Hey, just stop doing [expletive] for people.’”
To further prove the point, Doughty told a story about the time Campbell bought him a Gucci tie as a thank-you present for hosting an after-party at his house. That probably cost about $300 — not insignificant given that Campbell has about $65 million less in career earnings than his former teammate.
“I just thought it looked like him and, it’s funny, that’s like his go-to tie,” said Campbell. “It looks good on him. That’s funny he brought that up, but I love that guy. He’s awesome.”
The goaltender is such a team-first guy that he recently took it upon himself to start the Leafs’ ‘Road to 50’ movement, growing a moustache in support of Auston Matthews’ pursuit of a 50-goal season.
In the process, he’s launched an unofficial competition in the dressing room: Who can say the nicest thing about him? The compliments seem to grow in depth with each answer given.
"It doesn’t seem like he ever has a bad day," said Andersen.
"He’s above and beyond,” said Tyson Barrie. “He’s a good dude."
"He’s probably the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” said Zach Hyman.
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While Campbell doesn’t have roots in Los Angeles as deep as Toronto teammates Clifford and Jake Muzzin — both former Stanley Cup winners with the Kings — this will always be a meaningful stop on the NHL circuit for him.
This is where the former 11th overall draft pick rebuilt his game under the watchful eye of goalie coaches Dusty Imoo and Bill Ranford, and this is where he finally established himself as a bonafide NHLer after looking like he might never deliver on the big expectations that followed him.
Campbell will resume a transient life when he returns to his new home in Toronto at the end of the week. He’ll finally have some better clothing options on hand, but he’s staying in a downtown hotel for the balance of the season.
Again, not that he’s complaining.
"I love it. It’s great," said Campbell. "A lot of Marriott points. I’ll take it."
