Thirty-year-old checking center David Kämpf has two years left on his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, carrying a $2.4 million cap hit. Despite this, he has not been playing for the team recently.
Sources close to the organization emphasize that Kämpf's absence is not related to his performance or attitude, but rather the team's salary cap situation. Although $2.4 million appears reasonable, Toronto's decision to extend Scott Laughton suggests that Kämpf may no longer be part of the club's future plans.
Kämpf is reportedly considering terminating his contract to become an unrestricted free agent, driven by his desire to keep playing. This move seems increasingly likely.
Undrafted, Kämpf built a solid role during five seasons with Chicago. He also played a significant part in Czech hockey history when the home team won gold at the 2024 World Championship.
"People around the organization that I’ve spoken with insist his absence has nothing to do with performance or attitude — only the cap situation."
"At first glance, $2.4 million seems reasonable, but when I saw Toronto sign Scott Laughton to an extension, it became clear that Kämpf likely wouldn’t be part of the team’s long-term plans."
David Kämpf, sidelined due to cap constraints, may soon seek free agency to continue his career, potentially with the Bruins.
Would you prefer a more formal or conversational tone for the HTML text?