Campbell warming Chicago hearts
CHICAGO — There were few things in Buffalo sports history like the rebirth of the Sabres in 2005-06.
The team had long lay dormant in the soul of Western New Yorkers, with bankruptcy, labor strife and dismal seasons numbing any feelings of attachment. Then a bunch of kids came out of nowhere and melted people’s hearts. They won games and won over the community, hugging themselves while scoring at will and embracing their fans while walking down the street. It was a magical time, one any hockey enthusiast would want to experience again.
Alas, moments like those are fleeting. Reliving them is almost impossible.
That’s where Brian Campbell comes in. In his charmed life, nothing is impossible. The defenseman was one of the catalysts of the Sabres’ rebirth, and he’s filling the same role with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Campbell’s new team meets his old one tonight in the United Center, where the atmosphere will mimic that of HSBC Arena three years ago. Fans who stayed away for a generation are lining up to fill the building, standing alongside newcomers who want to be part of the ride. A bunch of kids are winning and igniting the city’s spirit, and Campbell is there to tell them how special the moment is.
“It’s a lot like Buffalo was right out of the lockout,” Campbell said Tuesday. “The only difference is this started right at the start of the year, while Buffalo took about 10 games before it just was blowing up. There’s so many similarities that I see in my head about these guys that it’s unbelievable. It’s nice to relive it again that way.”
Obviously, Campbell picked the right team to sign with this summer. The 29-year-old loved his eight years in the Sabres’ organization, but Chicago is his kind of town right now.
“I’m happy with it. I love it here,” he said. “The organization’s unbelievable, really first class. The team’s playing well, a young team with a lot of energy. In my mind, I know I made the right decision in where I came on July 1.”
That date will forever be ingrained in Campbell’s mind. It’s the day he made the jump to NHL royalty.
The Blackhawks were desperate to show their budding fan base they were serious about rebuilding, and they were eager to get a leader to show their young stars the way. Campbell, the top defenseman in the free agent market, was the runaway choice in both categories. He signed an eight-year, $56.8 million deal that would change anyone’s life.
Campbell, though, is a rarity. Speaking face-to-face with The News for the first time since being traded last February, he was the same happy, unassuming, chatty guy he was as an unwealthy 23-year-old.
“It’s great that you can make an unbelievable living by doing something you love, but honestly I feel it hasn’t changed me,” Campbell said. “I haven’t bought anything. Nothing’s really changed for myself. I still want to perform, and if I don’t perform I’m still [mad] at myself, and it doesn’t matter about [the money].”
The drive to perform is what put Campbell in position to get the money. He matured from healthy scratch to a two-time All-Star who will start for the Western Conference at the midseason classic later this month.
“He wanted to learn more than anyone,” said Sabres assistant coach James Patrick, Campbell’s mentor. “He wanted to learn, and he wanted to get better. That added to the fact of how much he loved the game. To get to this level, you have to work hard. But he daily wanted to learn.”
The native of Strathroy, Ont., is still learning about America’s Second City. He’s never lived in such a huge place, and he’s taking the time to study it. He eats in places where he’s recognized and in restaurants where he can hide. He’s watching with enjoyment as his parents come to town and buy tickets to sightseeing tours.
One thing he’s not doing is letting the new surroundings interrupt his game. He didn’t even go house hunting. He just rented a furnished place near Navy Pier so he wouldn’t be distracted off the ice.
It seems to be working. Despite a steady shuffle of defense partners, Campbell is performing. He has seven goals and 22 assists in Chicago’s first 40 games, with a plus-7 rating. He’s helping quarterback a team that’s third in the NHL at 3.52 goals per game.
“He had certainly all the talent and all the tools, it was just a matter of maturing and putting it all together,” said former teammate Chris Drury, now with the New York Rangers. “It’s pretty neat to see how well he does it.”
The Sabres get the chance to see him firsthand tonight.
“You want to beat your old team, show them that you’re fitting in nicely with another team and doing all right,” Campbell said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
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