Jack Campbell’s time as a player has come to an end.
The 34-year-old goaltender announced his retirement on social media today and said he is moving into coaching. Campbell, a former Dallas Stars draft pick, had signed with the Red Wings two years ago, but that deal now stands as the last contract of his playing career.
His run in the organization was brief. Campbell never appeared in a game for Detroit, and his only action with the club came in 14 regular-season games for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins before he entered the NHL Player Assistance program. He also got into two playoff games during Grand Rapids’ short postseason that year.
There would have been room for that kind of depth last season. Michal Postava took over Sebastian Cossa’s spot in the organization and held it through the entire playoff run, leaving the Griffins with a different look in net.
Detroit’s confidence in Postava showed up again at this year’s draft, when the Red Wings traded Cossa away. With the only other signing so far being Daniil Tarasov, Postava has a real opening to earn starts behind John Gibson next season.
Still, there’s plenty that has to play out before the puck drops. The 24-year-old could be ready to seize the job, or he could hit a sophomore slump in his second North American season. And the Red Wings will also have Trey Augustine in the mix, with the MSU product set to make his pro debut for the Griffins this fall.
On the Grand Rapids side, new defenseman Marcus Crawford is a familiar name with a winding path back to the organization. The 29-year-old spent most of his pro career in the ECHL after turning pro, aside from an eight-game debut with the Griffins in 2018.
Crawford also spent two seasons overseas with the Cardiff Devils in the British EIHL from 2022 to 2024, where he averaged just over a point per game per season.
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