Brian Campbell really wanted to return to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Signed as an unrestricted free agent on Friday, Campbell’s deal is reported to be one year with a total value of $2.25 million for a 37-year-old puck-moving defenseman coming off a 31-point season with the upstart Florida Panthers.
Based on a report from the Sun Sentinel, Campbell turned down quite a bit of money from the Panthers in order to sign with Chicago, where he won a Stanley Cup six years ago. The Blackhawks are still close to the cap ceiling, with about $3.14 million in space.
Wow. Just heard Campbell turned down one year deal for $5 million with Panthers #really
— Harvey Fialkov (@hfialkov) July 1, 2016
“I had other opportunities,” said Campbell, as per the Chicago Tribune.
“I wanted to be at a number I was comfortable with. I told people I would take a discount to come here. But Stan (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.”
Rowe said he made Campbell fair offer and Soup, "said he'd play here for a year,'' but changed his mind #flapanthers
— Harvey Fialkov (@hfialkov) July 1, 2016