David Kampf embracing larger role amid Canucks' centre crisis

VANCOUVER – It is far from ideal that David Kampf is suddenly the Vancouver Canucks’ second-line centre, but his deployment illustrates the crisis that the reeling National Hockey League team has down the middle.

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ castoff is better than the alternatives.

For Kampf, a 30-year-old Czech who built a solid reputation as a checking centre in the NHL, anything is better than where he was a month ago – riding buses in the American Hockey League for the first time in seven years after falling out of favour with Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube.

Kampf was so desperate for another NHL opportunity that he agreed to terminate his contract with the Leafs, forfeiting about $3.7 million in guaranteed salary this season and next, before signing 10 days ago a pro-rated $1.1-million, one-year deal with the Canucks. Who were also desperate.

“I thought the opportunity here is the biggest one,” Kampf said after the 30^th-place Canucks practised Monday at Rogers Arena. “I played a few years already in the NHL, so I just decided to get one more chance. I wanted to get one more chance and see if I'm still able to play in the NHL. That was my thinking. It's not about proving (something) to people. It's proving more to myself. It's about myself, not about what people think of me.”

The Canucks’ urgent need at centre was the biggest draw for Kampf, but the eight-year veteran also cited the appeal of Vancouver, a couple of Czech teammates named Filip, Hronek and Chytil, and a platform to audition for his country’s Olympic team in February.

Kampf, however, has skated straight into an inferno, a 9-12-2 Canucks team that has lost to injury or free agency all but one of its centres from last season, as well as its stout, defensive structure.

As it travels Tuesday for a difficult four-game road trip that begins with the reborn Anaheim Ducks and ends against the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche, the Canucks have one win in seven games and are playing themselves out of the playoff race and into the Gavin McKenna draft sweepstakes.

“To be honest, I wasn't thinking about it like that, like if this team's doing good or not,” Kampf said of his decision. “I just felt that's the best decision for me, for the opportunity. Yeah, it's a little bit harder (for the team) right now, but I think we have to just keep working hard.

“I can not say what's the problem (because) we’re still trying to figure it out. But I would say our defensive zone, we can be so much better there. We can improve there. So, yeah, we need to focus on the D-zone (and) be a little bit harder to play against, closing quick and trying to win the battles. It's about the battles. If you're winning the battles, you have the puck and you can go (and attack).”

The Canucks have lost all three games with Kampf, including Sunday’s disheartening 5-2 loss to the Calgary Flames. But in the last two games, the newest Canuck has been centring scoring (but not currently) wingers Brock Boeser and Conor Garland. 

The odd-fitting trio – two offensive right wingers and a checking centre – is actually generating scoring chances.

Garland and Boeser have combined for 13 shots in all situations, but Boeser remains pointless in three games and Garland has just one point in six.

With 50 points apiece, Garland and Boeser were the leading scorers among Vancouver forwards last season.

“I feel bad for him because he could easily have three or four assists if, you know, if me and Brock were converting,” Garland said of Kampf. “But we're not right now. It’s only been two games, but it felt like we were pretty good (as a line) in both games. Had a lot of looks, just not much going in right now. Just one of those times of the year.”

Asked about Kampf’s low offensive ceiling – the centre’s career-high for points is 27 – Garland said: “To get to the NHL, everybody was an offensive player somewhere. It’s just about keeping your confidence and knowing you can make plays when you have the chance. I mean, even three years ago, I was on the fourth line here. No power play, no PK, 10 or 11 minutes a night. So you’ve just got to stick with it. You’ve got to get better, though. Put your time in after practice, before practice. Sit in (special teams) meetings. Don't rim it out every time (at practice); maybe try to make a play. Have no fear because in games, we need guys to make plays.”

“Whether it's on the forecheck or whatever, I think he's a smart hockey player,” Boeser said. “I think he's just trying to get an understanding of kind of how me and Gars operate and where to be, and kind of our system. It's still early, but I definitely see glimpses of that (offensive) game. I like the way our line's been playing, but we’ve just got to put the puck in the net.”

Hronek played with Kampf at a couple of world championships, including the 2022 tournament in Finland, when Czechia beat the United States 8-4 in the bronze-medal game.

“I know he's a really smart player, and obviously everyone (around the NHL) knows him because he's been a good defensive player,” Hronek said. “But I know he has an offensive upside in him as well. I don't know if he’s ever had a chance to play with, like, good players like he's playing with right now. He can produce more for sure.”

Kampf is getting an opportunity to play in the top half of coach Adam Foote’s lineup because Chytil and Teddy Blueger, two of only three experienced NHL centres the Canucks opened the season with (Elias Pettersson is the other), were injured on Oct. 19 and haven’t played since.

Lukas Reichel, an earlier low-risk pickup from the Chicago Blackhawks, looked completely unsuitable as a top-six centre and eventually played himself out of the lineup after one assist in 13 games and zero shots on goal in nine of them.

And the Canucks’ AHL centre graduates, Max Sasson and Aatu Raty, are just starting to learn the NHL game and have struggled at times in the defensive zone.

“When you lose that many guys up the middle at once,” Foote lamented on Saturday, “it's just logic that. . . (defensive) numbers are going to go down. I mean, I don't know how they can't. Right, that's logic to everybody? It's logic to me.”

So until someone gets healthy or until general manager Patrik Allvin manages to acquire a top-six centre, a trade mission that began when last season ended, this is Kampf’s big chance.

“For sure, everyone wants to score goals and have points,” Kampf said of rising beyond a checking role. “But like I said, everyone has their own role on the team. You can not have, like, 20 guys who score 50 goals. I found this role, so I'm trying to do my best.

“Yeah, of course, it's huge when you're playing with those guys (Boeser and Garland). They’re great players, lots of skills. But I wouldn't say I'm thinking about it too much, like if it's second line or third line or fourth line. I think I still get the same minutes like I always had, so it's not about what line it is. Like I said, those two guys are great, so I'm enjoying it right now and trying to do my best to help them.”

Kampf is probably one of the few veteran Canucks genuinely excited to be with the team right now.

“For sure, like, it wasn't a great start of the season for me,” he said. “But right now, I'm trying to be positive, you know? Like, I'm back in the NHL, and it's still early (in the season). I’m here 10 days probably. So I'm trying to enjoy every day and get better. Like I said, I didn't have a good start of the season, didn’t play too many games. . . so I'm still trying to get back to my level.”

And beyond.

ICE CHIPS – Blueger (lower-body injury) practised with the team for a third day in a non-contact jersey, although he appeared to fully participate in a contact drill near the end of Monday’s practice. . . The Canucks swapped emergency-callup backups, bringing Nikita Tolopilo up from the minors to back up Kevin Lankinen while sending Jiri Patera back to the AHL. . . Winger MacKenzie MacEachern was also returned to the Abbotsford Canucks.