Report: David Kämpf ‘Frustrated’ With Maple Leafs Situation, Takes Break From Marlies

David Kämpf Frustrated With Maple Leafs Situation

Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kämpf has reportedly grown frustrated with his current circumstances and has taken a break from the AHL's Toronto Marlies. This development forces both the team and the player to navigate a challenging roster situation.

Break From Team Amid Roster Challenges

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman during the Saturday Headlines segment on Hockey Night in Canada, Kämpf was not with the Marlies during their recent road trip.

"Kämpf has taken a couple of days to kind of think about his future," Friedman said. "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."

Contract and Cap Considerations

The veteran forward was placed on waivers before the season began and assigned to the Marlies after no other NHL team claimed him. Kämpf is in the third year of a four-year contract worth $2.4 million annually.

League rules limit the Maple Leafs' salary cap relief for buried contracts to $1.15 million in the 2025-26 season, so the Leafs carry a $1.25 million cap hit for Kämpf, complicating roster flexibility.

Impact on Player and Team

This situation is far from ideal. The Leafs likely hoped to trade Kämpf, while the player probably feels he still deserves an NHL role elsewhere.

Author's summary: David Kämpf's frustration amid salary cap and roster constraints has led to a break from the Marlies, highlighting the difficult position for both player and Maple Leafs.

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The Hockey News The Hockey News — 2025-11-03

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