The Toronto Maple Leafs might be looking to part ways with veteran forward David Kampf, according to NHL insider and former player Nick Kypreos. As the first wave of NHL free agency concludes, there’s still ample time for teams to make trades or sign remaining free agents, and Kampf appears to be a potential trade candidate for the Maple Leafs.
Kypreos’ Insights on Kampf:
“The bottom-six forwards need some attention as well. Is David Kämpf still in the plans to lead the Leafs’ checking line? There’s a good chance they cut bait there as well. Can he be replaced by prospect Fraser Minton or is it time to look for an NHL-ready player elsewhere?” Kypreos wrote in his article in the Toronto Star.
Kampf, who is entering the second year of a four-year, $9.6 million deal signed on June 28, 2023, is set to make $2.4 million annually over the next three years. With Toronto currently over the salary cap by $694k according to CapFriendly, trading Kampf could be a strategic move to clear cap space and potentially replace him with a cheaper option.
Additional Trade Speculations:
NHL insider Chris Johnston also mentioned Kampf as a possible trade candidate along with two other players. “They would look at moving Kampf, Jarnkrok, or Timothy Liljegren in the right deal. I should be very clear, that is not to say they are trying to get rid of them at all costs, but I think that because of the Leafs’ salary cap, they are pretty tight up against it. Really, at this point of the off-season, they blueline looks different, obviously made the moves in net. But, I think they will have to get creative to address any changes they want to make at forward,” Johnston said on The Chris Johnston Show on July 4.
With no changes yet made to their forward group and the departure of Tyler Bertuzzi in free agency, the Maple Leafs may need to trade someone to facilitate further moves.
Kampf’s Role with the Maple Leafs:
Kampf serves as Toronto’s fourth-line center and a key penalty-killer. Despite his importance in these roles, his $2.4 million salary is a significant factor in considering a trade, especially given that cheaper options are available for a fourth-line center. Kampf’s faceoff percentage dipped to 50.9% last season, marking his worst performance in this area. Nonetheless, his defensive capabilities and penalty-killing prowess remain valuable to the team.
Last season, Kampf recorded 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 78 games. Initially undrafted in 2012, he signed his first NHL contract with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017 after playing professionally in Europe. Following four seasons with the Blackhawks, he joined the Maple Leafs on a two-year, $3 million contract before signing his current four-year, $9.6 million deal.