Just weeks before the season kicked off, it appeared that the Calgary Flames were heading deeper into their rebuilding phase after trading several key players before the 2024 deadline. However, recent reports suggest the opposite. According to Frank Seravalli, the Flames are actually seeking reinforcements, not looking to part ways with their remaining veteran assets. On Amazon Prime Video’s “Coast to Coast,” Seravalli revealed that the Flames “have no intention of tearing things down” and that the team’s GM has been actively searching for a center to bolster their middle-six lineup. Chris Gerics of Hockey Patrol echoed this, speculating that the Toronto Maple Leafs might offer a perfect trade target.

With Mikael Backlund and Justin Kirkland anchoring Calgary’s lines, they still lack the depth needed to compete in the Western Conference. Gerics proposed that David Kampf could be an ideal fit for Calgary, citing his youth, defensive skills, faceoff expertise, and ability to fit in between Connor Zary and Blake Coleman, while allowing Backlund to drop to the fourth line. Kampf is currently listed as Toronto’s fourth-line center, having joined the Leafs in 2021, and while his scoring stats aren’t remarkable, his defensive contributions and penalty-killing prowess make him a strong candidate for Calgary’s roster.

Gerics also explained how this trade could benefit Toronto, which faces a salary cap crunch. Shedding Kampf’s $2.4M cap hit could provide much-needed relief for the Leafs, who have similar players like Calle Jarnkrok and Fraser Minten available to take his place at a lower cost. Additionally, the offseason acquisition of Steven Lorentz gives the Leafs flexibility in their lineup. Gerics suggested that a package involving Kampf and a draft pick for prospects or additional draft picks could help Toronto gain future assets while offloading Kampf’s contract.