Hawks' Campbell: I can become a go-to guy
Even though it was his seventh full year the NHL, Brian Campbell looks back at last season as a great learning experience.
It was his first season with the Blackhawks, which meant finding his place on a new team and with new teammates.
Not only that, there was the added pressure of trying to live up to the eight-year, $56.8 million contract he signed as a free agent, which at the time was the largest in franchise history.
Campbell didn't have a bad season by any means. He scored 52 points in 82 games, ranking 10th among the league's defensemen, and was plus-5. However, there were stretches of inconsistency, leading to times late in games when coach Joel Quenneville wouldn't have him on the ice.
"As much as you don't want to say it is, it was tough," Campbell said. "I know I have more to give and I'm excited to be more consistent and show what I can do.
"At the end of the year in the playoffs, I thought I had a really good run so that's something I'm going to draw off of. That's the way I can play and know how to play. There were ups and downs, but I did a lot of good things, too. Was it my best year? No, I wouldn't say that, but it's a learning experience as well."
Being more consistent, especially in his own end, starts with skating for Campbell.
"I wasn't moving my feet at some times last year and that just makes the biggest difference for me," Campbell said. "I've always wanted to be a consistent player and felt I did that in the past. There were a few too many peaks and valleys."
Campbell found himself trying to do too much on occasion last season to live up to his contract, which is no longer the biggest on the Hawks. Marian Hossa's 12-year, $62.8 million deal now sits at No. 1.
"Sometimes you come in here and you're trying to live up to something," Campbell said. "I know I said at times last year that it wasn't (a burden), but it's like any player that goes through that. I feel a lot more comfortable with it now.
"Obviously it is great (to have a contract like that), but it doesn't matter what I get paid. For me, I still want to produce and have great years and have great team years. For me, it's not about that. Obviously it's a reward for players, but I want to be a guy they can count on to be a go-to guy."
Campbell's ability to either skate or pass the puck out of trouble from the defense along with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook was a team strength and a key to the 104-point regular season and playoff success.
Quenneville agrees that a more consistent Campbell would only make the Hawks stronger.
"He had a stretch last year where he was just OK, and I think he progressed to where his best hockey was in the first two rounds of the playoffs," Quenneville said. "He was influencing the game and the tempo of the game.
"Everybody has stretches where you're better over the course of a season. The best measuring stick for me when a defenseman is playing well is being predictable and dependable. When Soupy has that on both ends of the rink he's very useful."