Brian Campbell took a discount to sign with the Blackhawks

Mar 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida Panthers defenseman Brian Campbell (51) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the third period at Amalie Arena. Florida Panthers defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Brian Campbell confirmed that it pays to win, as he gave the Chicago Blackhawks a huge discount and refused a more lucrative contract from the Panthers.

In the NHL, it pays to win. When teams win, players tend to want to play for them. That was the case with defenseman Brian Campbell, who signed a remarkably cheap one-year deal with $1.5 million with the Chicago Blackhawks on July 1. Familiarity probably factored into the equation as well since Campbell spent three years with the Blackhawks before being traded to the Florida Panthers. But he didn’t make his number one destination a secret.

“I told people I would take a discount to come [to Chicago],” Campbell said, via the Chicago Tribune. “But [Stan Bowman] (on Friday) was great at getting me to a number (we both) felt comfortable with. It was something I had to … be comfortable with coming to the rink every day and I’m truly ready to go and compete my hardest for the Blackhawks.”

The Panthers sure haven’t suffered because of Campbell’s refusal of a deal that was reportedly worth $5 million a year. They moved on to sign Jason Demers and extend many of their key players.

Campbell’s in a place where he is likely going to win and where he knows that he will be valued. He was a favorite of Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville during his first stint in Chicago that included a Stanley Cup victory. Florida is happy because they replaced him with some remarkable recruiting. Everybody wins.

For more NHL Free Agency coverage, check out our NHL hub page.

Home/Chicago Blackhawks