David Kampf's Situation With the Maple Leafs Just Got a Lot More Complicated
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, David Kampf gave an indication as to where his future may lie and it's not with Toronto.
The saga of David Kampf and the Toronto Maple Leafs has had several twists and turns. Once a key part of the bottom-six, he has been phased out and sent to the Marlies in order to make room for others on the team.
It was a move that didn't sit too well with Kampf, and recently it was reported that he had stepped away from the team in order to contemplate his future.
David Kampf's Potential Contract Termination Revealed
Well, that future may have gotten a bit clearer now according to Elliotte Friedman.
On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman commented a bit more on the Kampf situation, and how his absence gave the impression that he was headed out:
He did not play on Sunday. The Marlies were in Chicago playing the Wolves Saturday and Sunday, I heard he had taken an absence on Friday and was not going to play.
I'll say this, I don't know exactly what was said or was told but Kampf did leave players with the Marlies with the impression that he was going to terminate his contract.
That has happened before; Filip Zadina did it, Conor Sheary did it a couple years ago, Brandon Saad did it; he ended up in Vegas.
So Kampf is aware of the possibility.
I'll say this, I don't know exactly what was said or was told but Kampf did leave players with the Marlies with the impression that he was going to terminate his contract.
That has happened before; Filip Zadina did it, Conor Sheary did it a couple years ago, Brandon Saad did it; he ended up in Vegas.
So Kampf is aware of the possibility.
The precedent set by Zadina and Saad gave way for Kampf to make this decision, and his aspirations to still be an NHL player is admirable, although if he were to walk away, he could be risking out on losing a lot of money:
I want to say this, I had some people say 'Don't say this is going to happen.' This is a process.He's walking away from only $4-million, and people are going to ask 'Are you sure?'
I think people wanted him to take the weekend, but the bottom line is he wants to play and everyone understands that.
He's out of the lineup not because he's not good enough, but they can't fit his salary and roster spot in there.
I understand his frustration and we'll see if the Maple Leafs trade him or someone else to make room, but it got to a point where Kampf said 'It was not good enough for me.'
I think people wanted him to take the weekend, but the bottom line is he wants to play and everyone understands that.
He's out of the lineup not because he's not good enough, but they can't fit his salary and roster spot in there.
I understand his frustration and we'll see if the Maple Leafs trade him or someone else to make room, but it got to a point where Kampf said 'It was not good enough for me.'
Look, for a guy who has never really played anywhere else but the NHL, it's completely valid that Kampf is frustrated and wants out, but he also hasn't shown the capabilities he has to warrant a spot.
David Kampf's Exit Would Spell End For Polarizing Maple Leafs Career
This is a player who had back to back 25+ point seasons for the Maple Leafs and had 26 goals through his first three seasons with the team, but since then had fallen off a cliff.
His defensive acumen was never an issue and it's clear he is a solid two-way forward for a bottom-six, but at $2.4-million it's quite the hefty price tag.
At this point though, Kampf may decide that money isn't really a huge factor, and if he can find playing time on a smaller deal, that means more to his career outlook and motivation than stewing in the minors making more.
But having fallen out with Craig Berube and not having a spot in the current roster means the writing is on the wall.
For Kampf, all he wants is to continue his NHL career, but in order to do so, it's very likely he needs to find a way out of Toronto and do it elsewhere.
| POLL | ||
NOVEMBRE 4|1175 ANSWERS David Kampf's Situation With the Maple Leafs Just Got a Lot More Complicated Should David Kampf terminate his contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs? | ||
| Yes | 1022 | 87 % |
| No | 153 | 13 % |
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