Brian Campbell skates in a game during the 2012-13 season. Photo credit: Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports
There's been a lot of rumors going on about defencemen. First Tyson Barrie, then Travis Hamonic have been linked to trade rumors. But I'm here to talk to you about Brian Campbell, a 36-year-old defenseman playing for the Florida Panthers.
Campbell made his debut with the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999-00 season, playing his first full season there in 2002-03. He played four more seasons there before a midseason trade to San Jose. After 20 games with the Sharks, he was picked up on July 1 by the Blackhawks. During three seasons with the Blackhawks, Campbell won the Stanley Cup in 2010 before being traded away the next season for 25-year-old Rostislav Olesz, which just about brings us to the present day. He's played in Florida for five years and has been an assistant captain for all of those years. But the most important thing is that his contract will expire this year.
Another thing is that Brian Campbell is that his TAFF% in the last three seasons is stellar at 54.72% and his TAFF% this season is a spectacular 58.08%. If you want Corsi numbers, than I can tell you that his TACF% in the past three years has been 55.45% and that his TACF% this season is 57.79%. No matter how you slice it, Brian Campbell's possession numbers are incredible. Not only that, but he makes his teammates better too! Below is a bar graph showing a WOWY analysis of all D-men who have played 100 minutes or more with Campbell since 2013-14, with an asterisk next to a player's name denoting that the player has played less than 300 minutes with Campbell. I don't know about you, but I think that looks pretty good.
Campbell made his debut with the Buffalo Sabres in the 1999-00 season, playing his first full season there in 2002-03. He played four more seasons there before a midseason trade to San Jose. After 20 games with the Sharks, he was picked up on July 1 by the Blackhawks. During three seasons with the Blackhawks, Campbell won the Stanley Cup in 2010 before being traded away the next season for 25-year-old Rostislav Olesz, which just about brings us to the present day. He's played in Florida for five years and has been an assistant captain for all of those years. But the most important thing is that his contract will expire this year.
Another thing is that Brian Campbell is that his TAFF% in the last three seasons is stellar at 54.72% and his TAFF% this season is a spectacular 58.08%. If you want Corsi numbers, than I can tell you that his TACF% in the past three years has been 55.45% and that his TACF% this season is 57.79%. No matter how you slice it, Brian Campbell's possession numbers are incredible. Not only that, but he makes his teammates better too! Below is a bar graph showing a WOWY analysis of all D-men who have played 100 minutes or more with Campbell since 2013-14, with an asterisk next to a player's name denoting that the player has played less than 300 minutes with Campbell. I don't know about you, but I think that looks pretty good.
Looking at production, his 0.60 P60 in the last three years isn't impressive, ranking 136th out of 180 qualifiers, and his 0.56 P60 so far this season is less impressive, ranking 91st out of 160 qualifiers.
But the Bruins don't need offense. Combined, their blueline has chipped in with 42 points. While that's not the most in the league, it's pretty close and while it never hurts to add offense to the blueline, it is not a desperate need for the Bruins.
What is a desperate need for the Bruins is a player that makes his teammates better. Four out of the eight defensemen the Bruins currently have on their roster make their teammates worse on average. Zach Trotman, one of the four Bruins rearguards that do make their teammates better, only manages to boost his teammates' CF% by one percentage point, and has only played seven of 19 games for the Bruins. Take out the injured possession black hole Dennis Seidenberg and you still have an even split of players who make their teammates better and those who make their teammates worse.
Brian Campbell unquestionably makes his teammates better - a lot better. The Bruins could really use a guy like him, and should acquire him by whatever (reasonable) means necessary, whether at the Trade Deadline on March 2 or on Free Agency Day on July 1.
But the Bruins don't need offense. Combined, their blueline has chipped in with 42 points. While that's not the most in the league, it's pretty close and while it never hurts to add offense to the blueline, it is not a desperate need for the Bruins.
What is a desperate need for the Bruins is a player that makes his teammates better. Four out of the eight defensemen the Bruins currently have on their roster make their teammates worse on average. Zach Trotman, one of the four Bruins rearguards that do make their teammates better, only manages to boost his teammates' CF% by one percentage point, and has only played seven of 19 games for the Bruins. Take out the injured possession black hole Dennis Seidenberg and you still have an even split of players who make their teammates better and those who make their teammates worse.
Brian Campbell unquestionably makes his teammates better - a lot better. The Bruins could really use a guy like him, and should acquire him by whatever (reasonable) means necessary, whether at the Trade Deadline on March 2 or on Free Agency Day on July 1.