A calm voice. A kind smile. An easy laugh. A cheerful demeanour. Based on goalie Jack Campbell’s first informal media availability, it’s not hard to see why he has the reputation of being a beloved teammate.

But Campbell hasn’t come to Edmonton by way of a five-year, $5 million AAV contract simply to offer high-fives and hugs to his pals in the dressing room. For as pleasant as he appears, there is no misinterpreting his intentions with his new team.

“I just can’t wait to do my part to try to help out and to get to that next step of being a champion,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do, and I just want to do my job and help the team the best I can.”

Campbell was general manager Ken Holland’s one high-profile addition this summer, nabbing him from the Maple Leafs to shore up the sport’s most important position.

Remaining cap space was used to re-sign Oilers on expiring contracts: free agents Evander Kane and Brett Kulak and restricted free agents Jesse Puljujarvi and Kailer Yamamoto. Ryan McLeod, another RFA, remains unsigned, but his contract should get resolved fairly soon.

The only other players Holland signed were bottom-six winger Mattias Janmark and depth blueliner Ryan Murray, both to one-year contracts.

Continued growth is expected from Puljujarvi, Yamamoto, McLeod, Evan Bouchard, Philip Broberg and possibly a couple of others. But Campbell could have the biggest impact on the team’s fortunes as it tries to build on an appearance in the Western Conference final.

“When we got the deal done, it just felt so good,” Campbell said. “For Ken and the whole management, the staff, the ownership, the players to believe in me, it just motivates me so much every single second of the day to do the best that I can and do some special things here.”