Maple Leafs Rumors: Toronto Considering Buy-Outs of Two Players

The Toronto Maple Leafs have some big fish to fry this summer, like what to do with the likes of Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and even team president Brendan Shanahan. But there will also be some work around the edges of the roster, and on salary cap issues. And with that, it sounds like there are at least two players the Buds are considering for buyouts, according to insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.

The Leafs will have almost $27 million in cap space this summer, per PuckPedia, but even aside from what happens with Marner & Tavares, Pagnotta suggests more could be coming:

Toronto may free up even more space if they move, or buy out, David Kampf and/or Calle Jarnkrok, which is under consideration, according to a team source.

Kampf has two more years to run on the ill-advised four-year, $2.4 million annual cap hit deal he was handed in 2023. The 30-year-old's production and ice time have dwindled year over year for the past three seasons, landing at just five goals and 13 points this season in 59 games, in 12:24 average TOI. In this year's playoffs, he was called on just once in 13 games and had a minus-2 rating in that one appearance.

David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok are Maple Leafs buyout candidates

A buyout would only cost Toronto $358K for each of the next four years, $1.43 million in total. His cap hit would be reduced to $1.68M for next season and the one beyond.

Jarnkrok was a non-factor for most of this past season due to injury, playing in only 19 games, and providing just one goal and seven points. He did appear in 12 playoff games, but had just one assist to show for it, with a minus-4 rating.

He is entering the final year of his four-year deal, with a $2.1 million cap hit. A buyout would only cost the Leafs $258K for each of the next two years. His cap would be down to $1.58M for the coming season.

It all seems like a small price to pay to free up some much-needed cap room, and allow them to add players who would likely bring a lot more to the table.

The Leafs will need every penny, as they attempt to sign their crown jewel RFA Matthew Knies, which is likely to cost a cap hit of at least $7M. Aside from the big ones, the other UFAs that they'd probably like to re-sign are Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorenz.

The futures of RFAs Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg are much more uncertain. Robertson demanded a trade last summer before eventually re-signing on a one-year deal for $875K, with the promise he'd be given more of a run this season. That didn't really happen, as he was still down at 12:00 average ice time in the 69 games he dressed for, while scoring 15 goals and adding just seven assists.