CHICAGO (AP) - 3 year old daughter of Brian Campbell had football on Saturday morning, so his family jumped the melee Blackhawks at the United Center. The defender grimacing said he did not know if his team was still playing games, but had to be there.
Not much. Campbell will get plenty of opportunities for family time this year.
"It's just great to wake up every morning and I know the area and very happy with my wife and children with the school and just be ready to go," he said.
The move was a highlight for Chicago, which lost Johnny Oduya during free agency last July and missed his veteran presence at times last season. With Campbell in the fold, the Blackhawks seem to be in great shape with their blue shirts, with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook leading a deep group of defenders.
Campbell, who helped Chicago win the Stanley Cup in 2010, has six goals and 25 assists in 82 games with the Panthers last season. He led the NHL defensemen with a plus-31 plus-minus.
"Just like a real smart player," said Blackhawks assistant Kevin Dineen, who was also Campbell coach for three seasons in Florida. "I think patience is a real key for us. He really quality games. It has been around for a while and he loves the game. He can skate all night."
The Blackhawks like mobile defenders that can help on the offensive side and Campbell seems to be a perfect fit for what they're trying to do. He assisted the first goal by Richard Panik Saturday's scrimmage, the centerpiece of the annual training camp of the festival team, and carried the puck all the way up the ice during another impressive sequence.
Chicago missing several players for the moment because of the World Cup hockey but Campbell made a smooth return to the Blackhawks far.
"There are some things wise system that's going to be different, I'm sure. It is a bit difficult to get into right now, "said Campbell, who played in every regular-season games, while he was with the Panthers. "But not much has changed. There is a lot of the same team, which is excellent, and the organization is getting better every day."
Campbell, a native of Strathroy, Ontario, played with some current Blackhawks during his first stint with the team, and he has already made an impression on his new teammates.
"Skate with him and see in these skirmishes, its balance with the puck and play recognition and the way he moves the puck up the ice and gets away from us," goalkeeper Scott Darling said: "We are really happy to do it."
Coming off perhaps his best season - the most under-Campbell was a better career - there does not seem to be worried about duplicating its shape it a year ago.
"For me, this year it's just work hard and produce and help," he said. "I expect a lot of myself. I just want to be a good driver of the puck for this team, play well defensively. These are things that I sort of last year. Points will come, I'm not worried about that aspect of the game. Just try to win hockey games and help these young children. "
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