COLIN CAMPBELL: Jack of all trades

Shortly after being released by the New York Rangers during the 1997-98 season, Colin Campbell joined the National Hockey League, where he would forge a legacy in hockey operations, officiating and core scouting.

The man who offered him the job and the opportunity to join the NHL family: Commissioner Gary Bettman.

Nearly three decades later, it was Bettman who welcomed Campbell into another family: this time, the Hockey Hall of Fame.

“He never got the recognition he deserved,” said Bettman, a member of the Hall’s Class of 2018. “You might like it that way.

“But I’m sorry, my friend, the brightest spotlight in hockey has found you and it couldn’t be shining on a more worthy person.”

Campbell was named senior vice president and director of hockey operations for the NHL in 1998 after a respected career as a player and coach. In total, he has spent 51 years in the game and counting.

As a defenseman, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round (No. 27) of the 1973 NHL Draft. Over 11 seasons, between 1974 and 1985, Campbell appeared in 636 regular season games with the Penguins, Colorado Rockies, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks and Detroit Red Wings, scoring 128 points (25 goals, 103 assists) and 1,295 minutes of penalty.

After his retirement in 1985, Campbell became an assistant coach for the Red Wings, a stint that lasted until 1990. He then joined the Rangers as an associate coach for parts of three seasons: he was named coach of Binghamton of the American League. Hockey. midway through the 1992-93 season, before being promoted to replace Mike Keenan as coach following New York’s 1994 Stanley Cup championship.

Campbell led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup playoffs in each of his first three seasons as coach, including advancing to the Eastern Conference finals in 1997. His record in four seasons was 118-108 with 43 ties.

But it was after joining the League that he left a significant mark on the sport.

In 2005, Campbell spearheaded a movement to make the game more exciting, more challenging and more dramatic. Included in the changes: The center red line no longer plays a role in two-line passing, and obstructions such as hooking and holding would be penalized more harshly.

The result: a more fluid and pleasant match both to play and to watch.

“The game broke down on the ice. The hitch. The possession. Interference,” Campbell said during his induction speech. “It wasn’t fun for the players to play.

“The fans lost interest in the game. When their team was down, they knew there was little chance of a comeback. Ultimately, the game was broken and the player with skill was completely neutralized.”

Something had to be done. Was.

“Part of the reason I am honored with this induction into the Hall of Fame is because of the number of players, coaches, general managers, owners, ice officials, league associates, everyone who contributed. We met dozens of times 20 years ago and participated in dozens of on-ice sessions to test the rules.

“To this day we continue to monitor the game, focusing on rewarding skill and offense, ensuring the game of hockey remains great for our fans, but most importantly fun for the players.”

Today this has become that, thanks in part to Colin Campbell. — Mike Zeisberger, editor