David Kampf’s situation with the Toronto Maple Leafs has become uncertain. The Czech forward is currently playing for the Toronto Marlies in the AHL while still under contract with the Maple Leafs. Kampf is signed to a four-year, $9.6 million contract with a cap hit of $2.4 million per season, running through the 2026–27 season. Once a trusted defensive player, he now finds himself unsure about his place in the lineup.
Kampf has previously admitted that he expected a trade might happen, but stayed ready to contribute. Last season, things began to change when Craig Berube replaced Sheldon Keefe as head coach. Berube had a different view of Kampf’s role, and his ice time dropped. Kampf was also taken off the top penalty-killing unit and sometimes played less than ten minutes a game.
Why Are the Maple Leafs Freezing Out Their $9.6 Million Forward?
On the Monday episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, insider Elliotte Friedman explained why Kampf is no longer in Toronto’s lineup. Friedman mentioned that Kampf wants to play and that everyone understands his frustration.
“It is a lot of money he’d be walking away from,” he said. “But the bottom line is, he wants to play, and everybody understands that.”
He said Kampf’s situation is mainly about salary cap and roster space, not performance. “He’s out of the Toronto lineup not because he’s not good enough to play,” Friedman said. “It’s because they can’t fit his salary and roster spot in there.”
He also said that the news about Kampf’s situation might actually help him. “Maybe Kampf will have an idea of, if he does terminate his deal, what is out there for him, so he’ll know how much money would be affected here…. It’s not the worst thing for Kampf that it got out there,” Friedman noted.
Kampf has taken a few days to think about his next move. He is frustrated but still hopes for a chance to return to the NHL lineup. Friedman previously stated that Kampf still has approximately $4 million remaining on his contract, which would make it difficult if he were to end it early.
Speaking on Saturday’s Hockey Night in Canada broadcast, Friedman compared his case to players such as Conor Sheary, Brandon Saad, and Filip Zadina, who ended their contracts to find better NHL opportunities.
“Now I’m not sure that’s going to happen,” Friedman said, “but there’s no question that he’s taken some time this weekend to think about his future in the NHL.”
Kampf, now 30, is known for his strong defensive play, penalty-killing ability, and steady approach to the game. With 143 points in 536 NHL games, he has proven to be a dependable bottom-six forward. Whether the Maple Leafs make room for him or move him elsewhere, Kampf’s focus remains the same- to keep playing in the NHL and contribute where he can.