Toronto Maple Leaf Forward Suspended After Failing to Report to Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs have suspended David Kampf after failing to report to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. Kampf, who carries a $1.25 million cap hit through the 2026–27 season, had recorded one assist in four games with the Marlies before his absence. David Kampf’s contract has not affected the Maple Leafs’ cap hit over the past five days since he took his leave of absence. His leave of absence will likely come with terminating Kampf’s contract.

Kampf’s Career in Toronto

Signed by the Maple Leafs in 2021 after four seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kämpf quickly earned a reputation as a reliable, defence-first centre. He became a key piece of Toronto’s bottom six, anchoring the penalty kill and taking on tough defensive assignments against opposing top lines.

In his first two seasons with the Leafs (2021–23), Kämpf played all 82 games each year, posting 11 goals and 26 points in 2021–22, followed by 7 goals and 27 points in 2022–23. His ability to win faceoffs and suppress high-danger chances made him a trusted option for then head coach Sheldon Keefe in late-game and shorthanded situations.

However, Kämpf’s role diminished during the 2024–25 season as younger players like Pontus Holmberg and Connor Dewar earned more ice time in bottom-six and penalty-kill roles. Kämpf’s production dipped, and his average ice time dropped below 11 minutes per game. By the end of the season, it became clear the Leafs were moving toward a faster, more aggressive forechecking style under Craig Berube, which didn’t fully suit Kämpf’s more positional, conservative approach.

What’s Next for Kämpf

At 29 years old and under contract for two more seasons, Kämpf’s future with the Maple Leafs organization is uncertain. Toronto will seek to mutually terminate the contract if the situation remains unresolved or attempt to trade his rights to another NHL team willing to take on the remaining salary. However, his lack of offensive upside and recent absence may make that difficult.

If Kämpf and the Leafs part ways, he could explore options overseas, including in Sweden’s SHL or Switzerland’s National League, where his responsible two-way game and penalty-killing skill set would be highly valued.