Why David Kampf’s future as a Maple Leaf is in limbo

When the Toronto Maple Leafs announce their opening night roster for the 2025-26 NHL season, there’s a very good chance that veteran center David Kampf is on the outside looking in.

Kampf’s slowly creeped lower on the depth chart throughout the last 12 months, and general manager Brad Treliving has brought in some new options down the middle of the ice, which is leaving it awfully tough for Kampf to make an impact in Craig Berube’s lineup. It all started before last season’s trade deadline when Scott Laughton was acquired for a first-round pick, and then that was parlayed with Mitch Marner being dealt to Vegas and Nicolas Roy coming the other way. You add in Max Domi, who is versatile, along with staples John Tavares and Auston Matthews, and Kampf’s likely heading for waivers.

The 30-year-old Kampf has two seasons left on his contract at $2.4 million AAV, and while he owns a 10-team no-trade clause until July, considering the lack of impact he’s made on the Leafs lineup for quite some time now, there aren’t any teams chomping at the bit to add a fourth-line centre at that price tag. Kampf scored 13 points in 59 regular season games last season, and only managed to dress in one of the Leafs’ Stanley Cup Playoff games. While he’s a solid penalty killer and wins most of his faceoffs, the Maple Leafs are likely going with a bigger lineup, that’s much tougher to play against.

Laughton, Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan have shown some wonderful chemistry throughout training camp, and are likely getting a shot at starting the season as Berube’s fourth line. Roy, Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli appear to be a third line Berube is comfortable with, meanwhile Max Domi could get first dibs with Matthews and Matthew Knies, with Bobby McMann starting alongside Tavares and William Nylander. That leaves Calle Jarnkrok, Nick Robertson, and Kampf as returning forwards who now are on the outside looking in, and if a roster decision has to be made between those three, Robertson has the most potential, Jarnkrok is the most versatile, while Kampf is the most likely to be waived.

Kampf played a ton under former bench boss Sheldon Keefe. The defensive centre had back-to-back career years when it came to average ice-time per game, and since Berube took over, it hasn’t been the case. Kampf played just 12:23 per game last season, the lowest of his career, and one big thing that Berube doesn’t appear to be a fan of is the fact Kampf’s not physical. He landed just 50 hits last season, and with a limited bulldog mentality, the Leafs have felt the 6-foot-4 Roy gives them a different look, and one that’s much more preferred. Roy also has a much more appealing upside when it comes to offense, as he can be a depth power-play option, while also killing penalties. Versatility goes a long way for Berube, and after Treliving signed Kampf to a four-year extension two summers ago, he’ll after to right one of his only ‘wrongs’ so far throughout his tenure as Leafs’ GM.

Considering Kampf’s contract it’s not likely a team picks him up on waivers, even with the Florida Panthers having a gaping hole down the middle of their ice. The league changed the rule about being cap compliant for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, so adding money will be a lot harder to swallow for most teams this season.

Kampf understands it’s a business, and he knows his future lies within the hands of management. While he may be up in Muskoka enjoying some team bonding, his team to start next season is much more likely to consist of the 33 players who were assigned to Toronto Marlies training camp just days ago.