David Kampf starting the 2025-26 season as a Toronto Maple Leaf doesn’t seem like a popular idea and as such the notion of a successful season for David Kampf is one that he doesn’t play in a Maple Leafs uniform. We’ll get that idea out of the way first because variations of that response are being quoted across social media in reaction to the title of this post.
Looking at how the past couple of seasons for David Kampf have gone it is understandable that expectations are low. Kampf being bumped from the Leafs lineup late in the season and throughout most of the playoffs has the writing legibly on the wall that Craig Berube isn’t as interested in using Kampf as much as Keefe was. Not every coach has the same comfort food and with one of the final selling points on Kampf was his success on the penalty kill with Marner and Mitch no longer being around, there’s not much of a case for using Kampf over the other bottom six forwards available.
Assuming the ultimate goal and reasonable expectation is that the Leafs move on from Kampf, it is still worth the exercise of considering what if he’s still a Leaf in 2025-26 and setting goals and expectations for his play.
The Goal: Stay in the lineup and remain a penalty killing specialist
This seems simple enough and could just come down to being healthy. If Kampf is in the lineup it seems like a sure bet that he’ll be killing penalties and although it’s likely that Laughton and Roy will be given larger roles, Kampf will have a place next to someone on the second unit.
As for what a successful fit for Kampf in the lineup looks like, it could be that with the Czechia-born forward available the Leafs might want to try Scott Laughton on the wing next to Tavares. Or Kampf could find himself on Laughton’s wing helping create a much tougher defensively fourth line.
What seems like it is most necessary is that Kampf either bets out Robertson, Jarnkrok, or McMann, stays healthier than at least two other Leafs forwards at any given time, and Brad Treliving pulls off a more significant trade than just moving on from some of his depth.
The Expectation: Kampf is a low risk bottom of the lineup option
David Kampf can be the forward version of Martin Marincin. He can come into the lineup and provide low risk, low event hockey at zero risk of attempting something flashy. He can be a predictable but unexciting option for Craig Berube to call on and that honestly seems more appealing to NHL coaches than taking a chance on a rookie or AHLer who wants to prove something.
There is a benefit in keeping some centre depth around and if the Leafs aren’t eager to see Max Domi up the middle again, Kampf could be the ideal 13th forward.
What does seem like an expectation for the Leafs is that Kampf rediscovers his 26–27-point season form and have some ability to provide secondary offence. That’s a hard thing to do when most of your shifts are with Ryan Reaves and maybe Kampf gets better by that subtraction.
There’s probably still a preference towards just moving on from the 30 year old and his contract and the most likely scenario remains that Kampf is either traded or demoted. (Note: this has been said many times before.)
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