TORONTO — Just when it looked like David Kämpf had been thrown a life preserver from the Toronto Maple Leafs, the depth centre hit the waiver wire.
With Scott Laughton seizing Kämpf’s former role as fourth-line centre heading into Opening Night but going down to injury Thursday, Kämpf practised in his old spot Friday with the club.
A guy who had fallen out of favour with the coaching staff and had been scratched for 12 of Toronto’s playoff games last spring appeared he would be the beneficiary of Laughton’s bum luck.
Then 2 p.m. ET hit, and Kämpf was left twisting in the wind.
With NHL rosters requiring finalization at the start of next week and only one game (Saturday in Detroit) remaining on the Leafs’ exhibition schedule, a subplot of training camp had been the crowded battle for fringe forwards to make the cut.
Suddenly, with a significant injury and a decision on Kämpf, there is space for GM Brad Treliving’s other forwards to stick around.
As attempts to trade Kämpf over the off-season didn’t yield offers to Treliving’s satisfaction, and rookie Easton Cowan winning over coach Craig Berube, the waiver wire was being watched daily in these parts.
Useful but superfluous “fifth liners” Kämpf, Nick Robertson, Calle Järnkrok, and Michael Pezzetta had been practising with the main group but only as extras under a cloud of uncertainty.
Each requires waivers to start the season with the AHL Marlies, and at least one extra spot should be reserved for a spare defenceman (Philippe Myers is the front-runner there).
The Leafs have been wary of placing try-hard sniper Robertson on the wire, imagining the embarrassment if they lost a potential 20-goal man for zero return.
A rejuvenated Järnkrok was always the smart bet to be retained as Toronto’s 13th forward due to his versatility, experience, and defensive responsibility. Coaches trust him to fill in anywhere.
And energy bug Pezzetta does something better than anyone on the roster: fight.
The most likely candidate to get waived — and pass through unclaimed — was always centre Kämpf, whose $2.4 million cap hit through 2026-27 is too pricey for his minutes.
New to the Leafs in 2023, Treliving was scrambling for UFA centremen after being unable to keep rental Ryan O’Reilly. He re-signed Kämpf for four seasons at $9.6 million in a market thin on centre options.
The contract hasn’t aged well, particularly under Berube.
Once the 31-year-old Laughton blocked a shot with his left foot midway through Thursday’s otherwise meaningless loss to Detroit, Kämpf’s internal value could have risen.
“He’s a good NHL player. Been around,” Berube told reporters Friday. “Played in the league for a long time. He’s a reliable player.
“He gives you what he gives you, David. He’s come in with a good attitude.”
Kämpf was relied upon heavily as a defensive specialist by former coach Sheldon Keefe, but saw his games played (59) and ice time (12:24) sink after Treliving made the coaching change in 2024.
The 30-year-old Czechia native half-expected to get dealt over the summer.
Berube had been bullish that his new-look fourth line — Laughton centring Steven Lorentz and Cowan — could chip in more offence. He viewed friends Laughton and Lorentz as a duo worth keeping together.
Now, Laughton, who had arrived at camp with a clear head and stronger voice, will be out for weeks with what the Leafs are only describing as a lower-body injury.
“It’s a tough loss for him and us,” Berube said. “Obviously, it’s a bad break. He’s had a real good camp. Yeah, it’s tough for everybody.”
Laughton struggled to find his, uh, footing with the Leafs when he was dealt at the deadline from Philadelphia, the only pro home he’d known.
When he recovers from injury, the forward will again be forced to find his niche with a group in the thick of battle.
“You really feel for him. He had a great summer and was really excited settling in here and the work he put in,” John Tavares said. “He was having a great camp for us and trending really well going into the season.
“It’s unfortunate for him, for the team. I know he’ll do whatever he has to do, and along with the medical performance staff, to rebound here as quick as possible. But, yeah, it’s a tough break.”
Except for the forwards still hovering on the outside.
Järnkrok, Robertson, and Pezzetta now have two fewer teammates standing between them and NHL ice time. Järnkrok and Lorentz both have experience filling in at centre.
Teams have until 2 p.m. ET Saturday to claim Kämpf.
