Toronto Maple Leafs Week in Review: Week 4

Another week has gone by for the Leafs, and their identity remains uncertain. Overall, they remain extremely inconsistent to begin the year. Are they a good team or are they mediocre? As of right now, no one knows the answer. Playing in three games last week, the team posted a 2–1 record. Some positive moments took place last week for the Leafs, although some rather depressing moments took place outside the organization. Let’s take a look at how things went in week four.

Two huge wins

First of all, the Leafs had a massive win against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. This was a very important game, as the Flames sit near the bottom of the league. It felt like this was a must-win game that could destroy a season early on. After blowing a late third-period lead, Max Domi took advantage of a MacKenzie Weegar turnover and sealed the deal. The veteran forward scored two goals against the Flames to keep the positive vibes going in Toronto.

The following night did not go quite as well. Cayden Primeau made the start in goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had a rough night as he let in six goals on only twenty-four shots faced. This was good for a .750 save percentage, which is, quite frankly, unacceptable. Now, every team has an off night, and this was one of those for the Leafs. Things did not bounce their way, while the Blue Jackets simply capitalized on their chances.

Saturday night’s game, for the most part, was a positive game for the Leafs. Players throughout the lineup stepped up in the absence of William Nylander and scored some huge goals. Nick Robertson scored his third goal in four games, while Easton Cowan scored his first NHL goal. Unfortunately, the game ended on a negative note as Chris Tanev was stretchered off in the third period. He took an awkward hit from Matvei Michkov near his own blueline. Thankfully, the defenceman was discharged from the hospital the following day.

David Kampf’s uncertain future

A name that has been floating around a lot lately is forward David Kampf. The 30-year-old was placed on waivers at the beginning of the season and has been playing with the Toronto Marlies since. It was recently made public that Kampf has taken a break from the Marlies to figure some things out. Clearly, the veteran forward is unhappy with the current situation as the Leafs are likely trying to trade him.

At one point, Kampf was a reliable depth forward for the Leafs. He could help kill penalties, win face-offs, and provide some speed in the lineup. He is currently in the third year of his four-year contract with the Leafs. The question is, will he finish the deal with the Leafs organization? Or is a trade bound to happen sometime soon?

Kampf has a cap hit of $2.4M a season. This is a hefty price for a fourth-line forward who has struggled. One must wonder if the Leafs are unable to trade him, is it time for Brad Treliving to consider a buyout situation? Even if they were to trade him, it would likely be for future considerations, so a buyout makes a lot of sense.