On June 22, 2010 the Boston Bruins sent defenseman Dennis Wideman, their 2010 first round pick (15th overall) and their 2011 third round pick to the Florida Panthers for forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.
The big name in the deal was obviously Nathan Horton, a former 30-goal scorer that the Bruins hoped would find renewed passion and vigor in Boston. Campbell was considered a throw in, barely known to most Boston fans. He was described as an adequate fourth line center who was not afraid to drop the gloves and could help kill penalties. What Campbell has shown since is that the Bruins clearly won this trade.
Campbell has been a force on Boston’s “Merlot Line” while pitching in more on offense than the Bruins had expected. Campbell has seven goals and eighteen points on the season, with four goals and nine points in Boston’s last eight games. He hits, he battles in the corners and wins more often than not, kills penalty and basically just wreaks havoc whenever his line is out on the ice.
“And you know I guess Soupy [Gregory Campbell] is one of those guys that leads by example, every game you get a guy that’s going to work hard, give you everything he’s got,” said coach Claude Julien.
That is what the Bruins get every night and every shift from Campbell… a player who goes all out and isn’t happy unless his opponents are unhappy. While Campbell’s offense is certainly a plus for the Bruins, many of Campbell’s vital talents do not show up on the score sheet.
The underrated Gregory Campbell is a big part of the Bruins success.
Campbell’s fiestyness, willingness to battle and no quit attitude often force opposing players to hook or trip him just to stop him, putting his team on the powerplay and vicariously giving them more scoring opportunities. Playing with hard nosed guys like Campbell also opens up space for his teammates, giving them more time to produce scoring chances.
“Yeah, you know, he’s a lot of fun to play with. Him and Thorty, they work so hard, they win every battle that they are in, you know, with guys like that it makes your job so much easier,” said Blake Wheeler. “You just kind of get in open spaces and they move to you and you always have a lot of time and space when playing with those guys so I think they, you guys have seen it, they’ve done it all year and that’s what makes them have success.”
Campbell developed early chemistry with Shawn Thornton and Boston’s fourth line has been arguably the best fourth line in the league and at times this season the best line the Bruins have had this season. Campbell and Thornton have seen multiple changes on the left wing on their line, but that has not stopped them from doing what they do best.
“Well I mean there’s no magic formula we just try to work hard and compete, be responsible and playing in the other teams end more than we play in our end. And you know we’re, our styles of play compliment each other. I mean there’s nothing fancy about the way we play, we just try to work hard, will all the little battles and attack the net,” Campbell said.
The recent success of the Bruins is generally focused on the hot hand of Patrice Bergeron, the stellar goaltending of Tuukka Rask and the improved play of Captain Zdeno Chara. However, without players like the very underrated Gregory Campbell, leading a line that plays so well that head coach Claude Julien can roll four lines in any game, the Bruins may not be quite as set up for success.
Saturday afternoon against Colorado, the Bruins came out a bit flat and just two minutes in they were already down by a goal. Knowing his team needed a spark, Campbell was dropping the gloves with a bigger Cody McLeod to let his teammates know it was time to stop sitting back.
Immediately after Campbell’s rumble with McLeod, the Bruins noticeably picked up the pace and were out playing Colorado the remainder of the period, ending the first twenty minutes with a 2-1 lead over the Avalanche. Boston would eventually win 6-2, with Campbell helping to ice the game.
With Dennis Seidenberg in the penalty box and Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj on the bench, Colorado was desperately trying to tie up the game and were storming the Bruins 6 on 4. Campbell was one of four players Julien trusted to be on the ice in that situation and Campbell did not let him down.
Campbell battled for the puck, found Brad Marchand and Marchand set the puck down the ice into the open cage, icing the game for the Bruins, just another important goal Campbell has been a part of lately. When asked about his line’s recent success, Campbell kept it simple.
