The Toronto Maple Leafs and forward David Kampf are headed for a breakup, but it’s not as simple as ripping up a contract. According to from Sportnet Elliott Friedmannegotiations over a contract termination have stalled over a dispute over Kampf’s signing bonuses – and now both the NHL and NHLPA are involved.
Friedman reported Saturday headlines that Kampf has made it clear he does not want to play in the AHL after being assigned to the Toronto Marlies last month. The 30-year-old left the Marlies without consent, prompting the Leafs to suspend him without pay and save approximately $1.25 million in underground costs.
But the issue is more complicated than that. Kampf’s four-year, $9.6 million deal includes $1.325 million in annual signing bonuses, and the team and player camp are reportedly at odds over whether to return some of that money if the deal is terminated.
“He has made it clear he does not want to play in the AHL anymore,” Friedman said. “The question now is whether he will have to give back some of the bonus money if the contract is torn up.” Friedman joked that you can guess where each side of this debate ends up: The NHLPA is standing up for the player and the team and believes they should get some of their money back.
David Kampf Maple Leafs Trade Discussion
Meanwhile, there are reports that Leafs GM Brad Treliving has explored trade options for Kampf — even for a late draft pick — in hopes of getting some return before resorting to termination. However, if no team bites, Toronto could finally cut ties as soon as this week.
What’s next for Kampf and the Leafs?
Kampf’s future in the NHL looks bleak. Once seen as a reliable defensive forward in the bottom six positions, his offensive contributions have plummeted. As Toronto’s forward depth improves, he has become expendable.
There are teams that could use a reliable, experienced penalty killer if the money makes sense. Kampf’s next stop could only come if this messy situation where Toronto is worked out and a team believes a restructured short-term deal makes sense for them. If he’s willing to take a pay cut to stay in the league, he can carve out a spot. If he isn’t willing to go to the AHL on whatever team he signs with, the prospects of him landing somewhere strong diminish exponentially.
Next: The Maple Leafs’ goaltending problem just got harder to ignore
