The Toronto Maple Leafs are a team to watch on the trade market this summer. General Manager Brad Treliving could be interested in adding a top-six forward to his roster, which means there’s several Leafs who
should be considered trade candidates this offseason, including depth centre David Kampf.
Kampf, 30, appeared in 59 games last season, chipping in with 13 points. He was in and out of the lineup at times, including during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The fourth-line centre appeared in just one postseason game for Toronto, as the acquisition of Scott Laughton seemed to push Kampf down the depth chart, and essentially out of the lineup. With Laughton back for the 2025-26 season, and with the acquisition of Nicolas Roy from the Vegas Golden Knights, Kampf has become quickly expendable.
The veteran forward is set to earn $2.4 million AAV for the next two seasons and owns a 10-team no-trade clause, which does disappear at the end of next season. If Kampf is moved, and more so when, he’ll have some say in the matter. Here’s three teams to keep an eye on as potential trade destinations for the
Maple Leafs‘ forward.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Maple Leafs could quickly emerge as trade partners for the Penguins, as they have both Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell available, who could slot in nicely on the right side of their top six. Kampf could go back the other way as part of a bigger package to appease Kyle Dubas, as his $2.4 million cap hit would help balance out the finances.
Dubas loves ‘his guys’ and he’s a huge fan of what Kampf can do when it comes to a 200-foot game, and killing penalties. Pittsburgh’s penalty kill was middle of the pack last season and they’ll be looking for ways to improve their special teams heading into next season. With just two years left on his deal, the Penguins wouldn’t necessarily be tied to Kampf long term.
Dubas also could have his eye on goaltending prospect Dennis Hildeby and disgruntled forward Nick Robertson, and a package of all three could be a conversation starter should the former Maple Leafs’ GM be interested in doing business with his former club. It’s worth mentioning
Calle Jarnkrok could also be an option for Dubas and company should trade talks advance.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets are trying to improve next season, and Kampf would give them a veteran presence for their fourth line, and a reliable centre who can win faceoffs, play a defensive-first 200-foot game, and provide some stability at the bottom of their lineup.
Columbus has over $16 million to work with in cap space, they still have vacant spots on their NHL roster, and the Maple Leafs could add a little bit of a sweetener to this trade, as they could use Columbus to essentially dump Kampf’s salary, and create some more financial flexibility to make a corresponding move.
The Blue Jackets brought in a fourth-line centre before the trade deadline last season in Luke Kunin from the San Jose Sharks, however it didn’t work out as much as expected, and Kunin remains unsigned on the free-agent market. Kampf could be a better option for Columbus as they look to round out their roster this summer.
Chicago Blackhawks
If there’s one team besides the Maple Leafs who know what Kampf is capable of, it’s the Chicago Blackhawks. Kampf spent four seasons in the windy city from 2017-2021, and went from an unknown international free-agent signing, to solidifying himself a role among the bottom six.
The Blackhawks continue to try and take small steps forward in the development of their young roster, and could see Kampf as a dependable depth piece that’s going to help their defensive metrics. GM Kyle Davidson has over $22 million in cap space to work with, so if Treliving is willing to make this salary-dump trade a little bit more enticing with either a mid-round draft pick, or mid-level prospect also being included, the Blackhawks could pounce at the opportunity of a reunion with Kampf.
Keep an eye on Treliving and the Maple Leafs over the course of the next few weeks. While he signed Kampf to a long-term contract shortly into his tenure with the Leafs, he should look to right one of his only mistakes so far at the helm. With the free-agent market becoming mighty thin, awfully quickly, it appears the trade route will be a much better option for Toronto’s GM to explore if he wants to improve his lineup heading into the 2025-26 season.
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