Ken Campbell

In middle of tight race to be top pick in 2025 NHL draft, Michael Misa lets his play do the talking Misa hears the chatter that others — such as Matthew Schaefer and Porter Martone — are favourites to go No. 1. He’s quietly trying to flip the script.

I've been keeping tabs on Michael Misa since his U16 days with the Mississauga Senators. Here's my piece on his quest for No. 1 in the 2025 draft in today's Toronto Star.
www.thestar.com/sports/nhl/i...

Matthew Schaefer Has Put His Stake In The Ground For No. 1 Overall In The 2025 NHL Draft With a standout performance in Game 1 of the CHL USA Prospects Challenge, the Erie Otters defenseman made his case for the coveted top pick, says Ken Campbell.

My latest for THN. Prior to the OHL season, I wrote that nobody should sleep on the possibility of Matthew Schaefer going first overall. Last night, he officially put his stake in the ground and said, "It's on!"
thehockeynews.com/news/matthew...

Light feet, heavy heart: The tragic story of a rising hockey star and two unfathomable losses Matthew Schaefer, a future NHL prospect taken No. 1 overall in the 2023 OHL draft, has dealt with two significant losses in recent months.

After Matthew Schaefer's tour-de-force perfomance in the CHL USA Prospects Challenge last night, here's a story I did on him last spring for the Toronto Star chronicling all the off-ice adversity he faced last season.
www.thestar.com/sports/hocke...

I watched the Vanier Cup only because my son is a Laurier alum and we took it in together. Great game. Great way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday aftenoon.

How About Awarding 'The Wayne Gretzky Trophy' To The Best Under-20 Rookie? An award to the best teenage freshman would pay homage to the greatest player in the game and level the playing field a little for the league's youngest players, says Ken Campbell

thehockeynews.com/news/how-abo...
My latest for THN. Matvei Michkov scored his 7th goal, and 2nd in OT, of the season. He and Dustin Wolf have to be the Calder frontrunners. But is it fair that Wolf is four years older and has almost 200 more games of pro experience? Here's a solution:

Is it just me or do the Brantford Bulldogs look like a beer league team? They look as though they're wearing sweatpants under their hockey pants.

Team Canada Is Seriously Considering USA-Born Goalie Joey Daccord For 4-Nations Face-Off Don't be surprised if the American-born goalie for the Seattle Kraken finds his way onto Canada's 4 Nations Face-Off roster, says Ken Campbell.

My latest for THN. Don't be surprised if Joey Daccord finds his way on to Canada's roster for the 4-Nations Face-Off, that is unless USA scoops him up first. thehockeynews.com/news/team-ca...

Analysis: There Was Nothing Wrong With The Hit On Maple Leafs' Knies, Per NHL Rulebook Upon further review, Zach Whitecloud's hit on Matthew Knies Wednesday night was perfectly legal according to the NHL rulebook, says Ken Campbell.

My latest for THN. You can hate the rule all you want, but Zach Whitecloud's hit on Matthew Knies was clean by the NHL rulebook's definition of a headshot. thehockeynews.com/news/analysi...

Is Mitch Marner Better Without Auston Matthews? Marner's offensive production without the Leafs' superstar is better, which leads to some interesting questions as Marner potentially enters free agency, says Ken Campbell.

My latest for THN. Is it actually possible that Mitch Marner is a better player without Auston Matthews? thehockeynews.com/news/is-leaf...

Just finished the latest instalment of Cobra Kai. If someone asked me what I thought of it, I'd tell them what Ted Lasso told Roy Kent about Hallmark Christmas movies: "They suck, but they're great — but they also mostly suck, but they're also kinda great."

Somebody should have told Alec Baldwin that his fly was down during the SNL finale.

Opinion: Sometimes, Ryan Reaves' Purpose In The NHL Backfires The Leafs' Ryan Reaves and other NHL enforcers are supposedly expected to protect players from the exact type of hit he laid on Edmonton's Darnell Nurse, says Ken Campbell.

My latest for THN. The NHL will almost certainly do the Maple Leafs a favour and suspend Ryan Reaves. Sometimes, the Ponzi scheme backfires. thehockeynews.com/news/opinion...

The sad thing about the Ryan Reaves situation is that if (when) the NHL suspends him, it will be doing the Maple Leafs a favour.

Inexcusable lack of effort from Evan Bouchard there.

Love the Ponzi scheme guys like Reaves have going. They've somehow convinced the hockey world that they're necessary, basically to prevent the bullshit for which they're largely responsible.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's a good thing NHL teams have guys like Ryan Reaves to protect their players from guys like Ryan Reaves.

We have a goalie goal in the OHL. Los Angeles Kings prospect Carter George in Owen Sound's 4-1 win over Peterborough.