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David Kampf with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Get to Know the Newest Washington Capital: David Kampf

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers
By Hayley Paljug | Last updated Mar 10, 2026 3:55 PM ET

David Kampf was recently acquired by the Washington Capitals at the 2026 Trade Deadline when the Vancouver Canucks traded him for a sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. He is a 31-year-old left-handed forward who plays both center and wing. With his acquisition, the Capitals filled a hole in the fourth line left by Nic Dowd, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Who is Kampf, and how can he fit into the team’s plans for the final stretch of the 2025-26 season?

Czech League and NHL Start

The Czech forward has been in the NHL since the 2017-18 season. He was undrafted and playing with Pirati Chomutov in Czechia when he signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks. In the season prior to joining the NHL, he had 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) in 52 games and helped his team in their playoff run with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 15 games.

He spent four seasons with the Blackhawks, as well as a handful of games with the Rockford IceHogs, the team’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. In the AHL, he played 33 games, recording 18 points. Across his four seasons with the Blackhawks, Kampf totaled 235 games and 58 points. In the 2020 playoffs he played nine games and scored a goal.

The Maple Leafs

After becoming a free agent in 2021, the forward signed a two-year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He initially had more success with the Leafs than he did with the Blackhawks; in his first season, he played a full 82 games and amassed a career-high 26 points. The next season was similar as he totaled 27 points. He re-signed with the Leafs for two more years, playing 137 games and accumulating 32 further points. In four playoff runs for the team, he played 26 games and had six points.

At the start of this season, Kampf was placed on waivers and reassigned to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. It was the first time he did not make an NHL roster out of training camp, and his frustration was evident. He played just four games with the Marlies before walking away from the team. He was suspended without pay and placed on unconditional waivers before being picked up by the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season.

Kampf and the Capitals

Kampf’s acquisition after trading away Dowd seems timely, as he appears to be able to fill a similar role. The newcomer is a bottom-six forward who will file in alongside players like Hendrix Lapierre, Brandon Duhaime, and Ethen Frank to round out the third and fourth lines.

Similar to Dowd, he is adept at faceoffs and has regularly won at least 50 per cent of his draws each season. This season, he has won 52.7 per cent in faceoff wins.

He is also a fairly physical player who can throw around his frame to get what he wants. At 6-foot-2, he uses his size to his advantage and has tallied 43 hits and 22 blocked shots this season. This serves him well when his team in on the penalty kill. He is known for his ability to easily shut down plays and prevent opponents from scoring. With the way the Capitals’ special teams have been performing this season, he could prove himself advantageous through the stretch run.

He will need some time to adjust to head coach Spencer Carbery’s coaching style. He thrived under former Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe, but struggled under current head coach Craig Berube, so it will be interesting to see how he adapts to Carbery. It is unclear when Kampf will play, as he is awaiting visa approval. The team plays the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday, so hopefully he is clear to start against the divisional opponent and help the Capitals secure the much-needed two points.