Chicago Blackhawks Greatest 100- #79 Brian Campbell

It’s hard to believe we have knocked out 20 players/executives in our countdown and for the first time we are in the 70’s! Today’s player is one that recently retired like in yesterday! 

This recent era of Championship Chicago Blackhawks hockey all started in 2010, but the groundwork was really laid down between 2006-2009 when Dale Tallon made some very good free agent decisions, and made some sensational draft choices.

One of those free agents was Brian Campbell who the old Chicago Blackhawks GM signed in the summer of 2008 right before the Hawks took their giant lead into being one of the best teams in the NHL for a decade.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook were about to become household names and Niklas Hjalmarsson was just a young pup back then, but it was Campbell that solidified the defensive core back when the team was about to make its rise to becoming champions.

In the 2010 playoffs, he didn’t light up the scoresheet, but he was a +11 while averaging over 19 minutes a game which was way before Coach Joel Quenneville went to playing just a Big 4!

More from All Time Blackhawks

• Blackhawks’ Legend Niklas Hjalmarsson Retires After 14 Seasons
• Blackhawks: The five longest tenured captains in team history
• Blackhawks News: Andrew Shaw Retires At Age 29
• Best Blackhawks Goalie of All-Time: Esposito, Hall, or Crawford?
• The Jersey Numbers Never Worn in Blackhawks History

Campbell’s career will be defined by it’s longevity and playing the right way for a long time, but Chicago is where he called home. It’s the reason that he retired today instead of trying to get one more contract elsewhere to play one more season in the NHL.

Campbell of course was traded away, and like all Chicago Blackhawks of this era eventually made his way back to Chicago. Like most (let’s hope Brandon Saad doesn’t follow this path) struggled in his second go around with the team.

One thing is for sure, he was a very good defenseman for a long time, but the wheels come off the engine in your late 30’s hanging up the skates is the right thing to do.

Campbell will be in the Chicago Blackhawks organizations front office which is really cool if you ask me, and he is #79 on my list of greatest Blackhawks because he was part of the group that ended the drought!

Next: What Did Saad Do The Last 2 Years

79 little days left until the season kicks off on October 5th! Are you ready?