David Kämpf, the 30-year-old checking center, still has two years left on his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, carrying a $2.4 million cap hit. However, he has not been active on the team recently.
Sources close to the organization emphasize that Kämpf’s absence is unrelated to his performance or attitude and is instead due to the team's salary cap constraints. While $2.4 million might seem fair, the Maple Leafs’ recent contract extension of Scott Laughton suggests Kämpf may not have a place in the team’s long-term future.
Kämpf is reportedly considering terminating his contract to become an unrestricted free agent, driven by his desire to continue playing regularly. This possibility appears increasingly likely.
An inspiring story, Kämpf went undrafted but established a valuable role over five seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also contributed significantly to a historic achievement in Czech hockey:
when the hometown team captured gold at the 2024 World Championship.
David Kämpf’s future with the Maple Leafs seems uncertain due to cap issues, and he may soon seek new opportunities to maintain his playing career.