As the days go by, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving needs to make a decision regarding his roster and cap situation, and trading an expensive David Kampf is critical.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have both a roster and a cap crunch to deal with. The imminent returns of Calle Jarnkrok, Jani Hakanpaa, and Connor Dewar should help bring some reinforcements to the bottom part of the lineup that has struggled both offensively and defensively. Both men come at a cost though, and Toronto has a few options to clear up enough space. They could trade recently acquired Matt Benning to take $1.25M off the books, and waive Philippe Myers to save an additional $775K, or they could trade a very expensive fourth-line forward.
David Kampf is a role player, through and through. Not offensively flashy, he plays the game with heart, toughness, and a defensive mindset. A good penalty killer with great faceoff mechanics, he can be relied on to provide bottom-six defense at center with the possibility of getting a few goals here and there at times. The problem is, that Kampf comes at a cost of $2.4M for the next two seasons, and Toronto has several players who are coming into the team who can do his job at a much cheaper rate.
David Kampf’s Reunion With The Chicago Blackhawks
There have been several reports regarding the Chicago Blackhawks need for a center, with Elliotte Friedman and Dave Pagnotta discussing that GM Kyle Davidson is willing to move draft capital for the ability to acquire a true center. Currently, Chicago’s being helmed by Nick Foligno on their second line. Kampf is younger, not on an expiring contract, and a better faceoff and defensive option for the Blackhawks, though if Chicago were to acquire him, a line with Kampf, Teuvo Teravainen, and former Maple Leaf Ilya Mikhayev could make for a very solid hybrid of offense and defense for the Blackhawks.
David Pagnotta spoke about Chicago’s need for a 2C and while Kampf wouldn’t be a 2C, he would be an improvement over any internal solutions:
«They don’t have an internal solution yet. Even though they’ve got some young kids in the system, they might end up being on the wing. So, they’re going to keep looking to see if they can add a piece, but add Chicago to the mix of teams that would love to add a 2C in that early-to-mid-20s range at some point over the next several months.»
Kampf isn’t early-to-mid twenties but he’s in the middle of his prime, and a reunion with the Blackhawks could help kickstart his offensive production again. Kampf has had a 26-point season in his first year in Toronto, showing that not only can he be a decent playmaker but he can put the puck in the net; scoring a career-high 11 goals. Given his linemates in Toronto are not offensively minded, Kampf is muzzled by his defense-only role. He would provide a different approach to offense, using possession as a means of generating scoring chances.
Toronto needs to find room on their roster for the returns of Jarnkrok, Hakanpaa, and Dewar quickly, and the fact they can get two birds with one stone by opening up roster spots and cap space, GM Brad Treliving should be on the phone ASAP trying to find a deal for his $2.4M role-player.
News
Sports Fans Flooded The Internet With Hilarious Memes After Donald Trump Defeated Kamala Harris In The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris (Photos via Getty Images and Twitter) Donald Trump is back in the White House. The former President won the key states of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to clinch the 270 necessary electoral votes to win the…
Insider Reveals What the Montreal Canadiens Would Get in a Trade for David Savard
The excellent Dennis Bernstein has just revealed what Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens would likely receive in return for defenseman David Savard. As Savard’s name resurfaces on the trade market, due to his expiring contract and the team’s rough start…
Guardians’ surgery shocker might’ve made Yankees’ creative trade that much tougher
Not quite Josh Donaldson, but… Championship Series – New York Yankees v Cleveland Guardians – Game 4 / Jason Miller/GettyImages Thanks to Gerrit Cole walking back his opt-out, the Yankees’ offseason has once again been rocked to sleep like a slumbering baby….
MLB insider drops first hint that Mets’ Juan Soto chase may be sham to bother Yankees
New York Mets v New York Yankees / Jim McIsaac/GettyImages From long before the offseason bell rang, the prevailing assumption was that the New York Mets would finally hop in the ring with the New York Yankees this offseason, ready…
Rich get richer: Dodgers ‘slam dunk’ free agent target should have rest of MLB scrambling
The Dodgers may add another Japanese ace in Roki Sasaki. World Baseball Classic Semifinals: Mexico v Japan / Eric Espada/GettyImages One of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ top priorities this offseason is bolstering their starting pitching rotation and it seems like the best…
NBA Fans Couldn’t Contain Their Excitement After Newly Elected President Donald Trump Makes A Massive Claim About “Impossible” Ticket Prices For American Professional Sports Leagues
Donald Trump (Image Credit: Getty Images) Over the years, sports fans have noticed a significant increase in ticket prices for various events. This rise in costs has created a substantial barrier for many individuals who are eager to attend their…
End of content
No more pages to load