David Kampf's Fate With Maple Leafs Becoming More Clear

David Kampf, Toronto Maple Leafs forward

He was on the trade block all summer long, but here we are 10 days into training camp and David Kampf is still a Toronto Maple Leaf. It's becoming more and more clear, however, that his days are numbered, and he will likely wind up on the waiver wire.

Jonas Siegel in The Athletic spoke with the 30-year-old center and wrote this weekend that the player is more than aware that he is a likely roster casualty.

Kämpf is clearly on the outside of head coach Craig Berube’s projected lineup again this fall. He’s been replaced by Scott Laughton in the middle of the fourth line, as well as on the penalty kill, just as he was in the playoffs last spring.

“I didn’t play at the end, so I lost my role, I would say," admitted Kampf this week at camp, after playing in just one of the Leafs' 13 playoff games.

“It’s up to management if I fit this team or not."

With two seasons (including this one) left on his contract with a $2.4 million cap hit annually, teams aren't exactly beating down the front office doors at Scotiabank Arena trying to acquire Kampf in a trade.

Siegel writes that GM Brad Treliving likely believes that he can "slip him through waivers," noting that Kämpf’s contract is "just large enough to be unattractive." Of course, that leaves one to wonder why Treliving signed Kampf to that 'unattractive' four-year, $9.6 million deal in the first place back in 2023, just after he'd taken over the reins of the team.

Kampf, the eight-year veteran, if he were to be placed on waivers and clear, would likely then be headed for the Marlies in the American Hockey League. The last time he spent any time in the minors was eight years ago—his rookie season with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Since then, in 536 NHL games, Kampf has 48 goals, 143 points and a plus/minus rating of -16, in an average of 14 minutes of ice time per night.