David Kämpf’s Status with Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kämpf is reportedly frustrated with his current situation and has taken a break from the AHL's Marlies, prompting challenges for both the team and the player regarding the roster.
Reasons Behind Kämpf’s Break
During the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman revealed that Kämpf was absent from the Toronto Marlies' road trip.
“Kämpf has taken a couple of days to kind of think about his future,” Friedman said. “Obviously, he's not playing with the Maple Leafs right now. He's in a bit of a roster and salary cap crunch situation, and he got a little bit frustrated.”
Contract and Cap Situation
- Kämpf is in the third year of a four-year contract with a $2.4 million salary cap hit per season.
- The Maple Leafs carry $1.25 million of that on their NHL cap due to league rules limiting cap relief for buried contracts to $1.15 million in 2025-26.
- Before the season, Kämpf was placed on waivers and assigned to the Marlies after no other NHL club claimed him.
Implications for Player and Team
This situation is less than ideal for all involved. The Leafs likely hoped to trade Kämpf, while the player probably feels he still deserves an NHL spot elsewhere.
Author’s Summary
David Kämpf’s frustration with his role and the salary cap constraints has led to a pause in his AHL play, highlighting tensions in the Leafs’ roster management.