Campbell excited to be back with Blackhawks, not going to miss Florida
Brian Campbell has no regrets about returning to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Speaking Friday at the team's summer convention, Campbell - who was dealt to the Panthers by the Blackhawks in 2011 - said there are people he will miss in Florida, but he only had the one team in mind when considering where to sign as a free agent on July 1.
Brian Campbell: There are people he'll miss in FLA, but "I’m not going to miss it that much, to be honest with you. I’m excited where I am."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) July 15, 2016
Campbell, it should be noted, kept his home in Chicago after being traded and has spent his offseasons there ever since.
"(Chicago) was always the No. 1 option," he added, citing organizational and family reasons for preferring the Blackhawks. "I was hoping it would work between us."
In terms of playing partners and even which side of the ice he is deployed, Campbell said all that matters is the uniform he's wearing once again.
Brian Campbell on the #Blackhawks: "It’s good to be on their side again."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) July 15, 2016
The veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract with the Blackhawks, moving on from a Panthers team for whom he did not miss a single game over the past five seasons.
His previous eight-year deal had been signed with the Blackhawks, but Campbell was ultimately dealt in an attempt to free up salary cap space.