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“Would Be Fun to Go Against Him”: Former Teammates Brace for an Exciting Reunion

Published 03/11/2023, 1:30 PM EST

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Not every game in the NHL has a fierce skirmish on the ice or a brawl that escalates tensions. At other times, it’s all about reuniting with old pals by facing off against them in the league. With spots in the Stanley Cup playoffs up for grabs, it’s safe to say that the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers are enjoying successful NHL seasons. Leafs’ former goaltender Jack Campbell is currently on the Oilers’ roster. In a recent interview, the Oilers’ goaltender’s old teammates expressed their excitement as they will square off against him in tonight’s game.

The Maple Leafs Insider reported this interview with the Toronto Maple Leafs’ players. Mitch Marner, a right winger, and Auston Matthews, a center, discussed playing against Jack Campbell, a former teammate, in the interview. They expect the reunion to be challenging, but they still can’t wait to see their buddy again.

Friends forever, even if they are in different NHL clubs

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The Los Angeles Kings sent Jack Campbell to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a trade way back in the 2019–20 season. Campbell had a fantastic career with the Leafs over the course of around two and a half seasons, including seven shutouts.

For a fresh start this season, the American ice hockey player was traded to the Edmonton Oilers. He has since appeared in 32 games for the team, making saves in about 30 of those contests. Campbell has given up 106 goals this season with a GAA of 3.57 and a save percentage of 0.882. While this isn’t the start he or the Oilers had hoped for, he is making steady strides with his new club and is looking forward to facing off against his old squad when they face off against the Toronto Maple Leafs in their next game.

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USA Today via Reuters

In the interview, the Leafs’ center Auston Matthews shares his views on facing his former teammate, saying, “It would be fun to go against him. Obviously, he’s a competitor and definitely a game I’m sure he would be up for. Gotta be ready to try and put the puck in the net.” Matthews is excitedly looking forward to reuniting with his former teammate, despite the competitive spirit the players possess. He’s also well aware that Campbell would be prepared for them and that the game would be difficult for both sides.

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What do you think of this challenging reunion of the former teammates? Let us know in the comment section.

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Written by:

Rahul Goutam Hoom

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Rahul Goutam Hoom is a US Sports writer for EssentiallySports. He is currently pursuing his Master's in Mass Communication and Journalism from Birla Global University. Rahul does photography and gaming during his leisure hours and likes to watch anime.
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Edited by:

Tony Thomas