According to TSN’s Darren Dreger”Expect David Kampf to be cleared for waivers today with the goal of terminating the contract. So if he clears waivers tomorrow, he could sign with another NHL club.” This is an unconditional waiver situation and Kampf will have to give up approximately $3.4 million in earnings so he can find a new place to play.
This will end the dramatic storyline where Kampf is sent down to the minors by the Toronto Maple Leafs, but refuses to play with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL after a few games. He failed to report, resulting in him being suspended without pay. He wanted to terminate his contract, but the Maple Leafs fought the idea and even argued that the player would owe the team part of his signing bonus if they let him out of his deal early.
On paper, it’s a “pain-free” resolution for Toronto. Rejecting the deal helps fix a bottom-six cap error that should never have happened. But the real takeaway isn’t Kampf’s departure; that’s why the Leafs were in this position in the first place. This team started the season with little center depth, no Scott Laughton and cap space to work with… and yet still managed to reach a point where a reliable penalty killer and serviceable defensive center became disposable.
Kampf is largely the same player he was when he earned his first Leafs deal, and he was a key part of a strong line of control under Sheldon Keefe. Now he’s being forced out — a move that could cost him more than millions in future earnings if the best he can get is a roughly $1 million deal with another NHL club.
He will attract interest elsewhere. The bigger question is what he is looking for and where he will end up. Does he sign for more than one season or does he want to go to the place that gives him the best chance to play and show that he is still a useful NHL player?
Next: Sens Lock in Shane Pinto – but only after he turns down another deal
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