Got to Earn the Respect

Gregory Campbell

ESPN — When forward Gregory Campbell was traded to the Bruins this offseason, he was excited to be coming to a team that has Stanley Cup aspirations and could help him reach the playoffs for the first time. But there were some bittersweet feelings because Campbell would be playing in front of Boston fans who, well, let’s just say who aren’t too fond of his father.

Colin Campbell

Last March, Campbell’s father, Colin, the NHL’s senior vice president and director of hockey operations and the league’s principal disciplinarian, decided that the open-ice hit by Penguins forward Matt Cooke to the head of Bruins center Marc Savard did not warrant a suspension. Savard suffered a Grade 2 concussion from the hit, missed nearly two months before returning for the Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Flyers, and is still suffering post-concussion symptoms, leaving his status for this season unclear.

I had no idea they were related. Hopefully now that Gregory is playing for the Bruins his father will be a little more strict when it comes to guys decapitating other players on the ice. Clearly [Colin] Campbell will not be any more lenient in his decision making throughout the season just because of the team his son is playing for. I’m still just more surprised that at the fact this is a father & son combo.

Campbell was traded to Boston as part of the Nathan Horton trade and should fit the third line role very well this season. Campbell might get booed in his first lap’s around the Garden ice but once he makes a hit or scores a goal, it won’t take long for Bruins fans to forget his father doesn’t like to suspend people.