David Kämpf’s Frustration with Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kämpf is reportedly frustrated with his current situation and has taken a break from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, highlighting a challenging roster dilemma for both the player and the team.
Report on Kämpf’s Status
During the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman revealed that Kämpf was absent from the Marlies during their recent 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 Roster Context
- Kämpf was placed on waivers before the start of the season and assigned to the Marlies after no NHL team claimed him.
- He is in the third year of a four-year contract with a salary cap hit of $2.4 million annually.
- Due to NHL rules for buried contracts, the Leafs carry $1.25 million of Kämpf’s cap hit this season.
- Teams can only receive a maximum of $1.15 million cap relief for such contracts in 2025-26.
Implications for the Team and Player
This situation creates significant difficulties for both Kämpf and the Maple Leafs. The team likely hoped to trade him, while Kämpf probably believes he deserves NHL playtime elsewhere.
Author’s Summary
David Kämpf’s current break from the Marlies underscores a tough cap and roster challenge, reflecting his frustration with limited NHL opportunities on the Maple Leafs.