Report: David Kämpf ‘Frustrated’ With Maple Leafs Situation, Takes Break From Marlies
Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kämpf is reportedly frustrated with his current situation and has stepped away from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. This move has created a complex roster challenge for both the team and the player.
Situation Overview
Kämpf's dissatisfaction with his role in Toronto has led him to take some time off. During the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported that Kämpf was not with 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 Cap Details
- Kämpf was placed on waivers before the start of the season and assigned to the Marlies after no NHL teams claimed him.
- He is in the third year of a four-year contract with a $2.4 million salary cap hit per season.
- Due to NHL rules, the Leafs carry $1.25 million of that cap hit, as teams can only get a maximum of $1.15 million cap relief for buried contracts in 2025-26.
Implications
This presents a challenging situation for both parties. The Maple Leafs would have preferred to trade Kämpf, while the player likely believes he still deserves an NHL role elsewhere.
“The Leafs likely would have preferred to find a suitor for Kämpf, and the player likely feels he is still an NHL player elsewhere.”
Author's summary: David Kämpf’s frustration with the Maple Leafs’ roster and cap situation has led him to step away, highlighting challenges for both the player and the team.