Report: David Kämpf ‘Frustrated’ With Maple Leafs Situation, Takes Break From Marlies
Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kämpf is reportedly frustrated with his current situation and has stepped away from the AHL's Toronto Marlies, creating a challenging roster dilemma for both the team and the player.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman shared in the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada that Kämpf was absent from the Marlies during their road trip.
"Kämpf has taken a couple of days to kind of think about his future," Friedman explained. "Obviously, he's not playing with the Maple Leafs right now. He's in a bit of a roster and salary cap crunch situation, and he got a little bit frustrated."
The veteran forward was placed on waivers before the start of the season and subsequently assigned to the Marlies after no NHL team claimed him. Kämpf is in the third year of a four-year contract with a $2.4 million cap hit per season.
Due to NHL rules, the Leafs carry $1.25 million of his salary on their cap, as teams can only bury a maximum of $1.15 million during the 2025-26 season, creating a difficult financial and roster situation.
This arrangement is less than ideal for everyone involved. While the Leafs likely hoped to trade Kämpf, he probably still believes he can contribute at the NHL level elsewhere.
Author’s summary: David Kämpf’s frustration with his constrained role and salary cap issues with the Leafs has led him to step back, highlighting a tough situation for player and team.