This past week, David Kämpf was one of severalToronto Maple Leafs that went down with an injury which eventually led to him being placed on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR).
The move means the Toronto Maple Leafs free up the fourth line center's $2.4 Million salary from their current cap hit. For the organization it is likely a blessing in disguise as they can test out other options in his role.
Kämpf is a suitable NHL player, he is a strong on the puck, kills penalties, wins face-offs and is defensively responsible. The problem is that the Czech born center brings zero offence to his team which prevents him from being effective higher in the lineup. When Kyle Dubas signed him back in the summer of 2021, he secured his spot on the team with a two-year deal that paid him $1.5 million after coming off a 56-game season that saw him collect one goal.
In his first full season with the Maple Leafs he scored 10x his last year in Chicago as he collected eleven goals and finished with 26 points and then followed that up with a 27-point season in 2022-23. The output was fitting of a player making the salary, however, in a surprising move he was then given a four-year extension that carried a cap hit of $2.4 million which led to a 19-point season last year, which is just way too much money for a fourth liner.
The Toronto Maple Leafs need get rid of David Kämpf
With Kämpf being placed on the LTIR, he is ineligible to return to the line-up until December 14 at the earliest. With him out of the line-up, coach Craig Berube will be forced to see other players in the fourth line center role, which will likely see Steven Lorentz, Pontus Holmberg and Connor Dewar all receiving opportunities. Lorentz and Holmberg each make a third of the salary, while Dewar is just over half the amount and all can do as an effective job as Kämpf.
The question is when he returns what are the options? General manager Brad Treliving can either trade him, waive him or play him.
If the Maple Leafs are looking at upgrade on any position on the team, they cannot afford to have a $2.4 Million fourth line center so playing him is not an option.
The second option is trading him, however, he was handed a ten team no trade clause that could get in the way, but there are ways around that. He could receive a better opportunity for ice-time on a non playoff team and Treliving could also make it mandatory in an upgraded trade for the other team to take Kämpf. One thing the Maple Leafs GM cannot do in a trade and that retained any salary in a trade.
The easiest solution for Treliving is to waive Kämpf and see if any team takes a flyer on him, the difficult part is the two years remaining after this season it may scare of another team. If he goes unclaimed, the Maple Leafs will get $1.35 million of breathing from his contract which would leave $1.05 million against the cap.
Something needs to happen with the bottom six and with the recent showcasing of the youth, guys like Kämpf and Ryan Reaves time on the team needs to come to an end.