"I gave everything I had": After ugly exit from Leafs, David Kampf pens emotional farewell note to Toronto fans

On Saturday, David Kampf shared an emotional Instagram message addressing Toronto fans for the first time since his turbulent departure from the Maple Leafs after weeks of controversy surrounding his contract termination and exit from the organization.

In his post, the 30-year-old centre thanked supporters expressing appreciation for the fan base that backed him through four seasons.

“It’s been a pleasure Toronto. A great chapter of my life but the time has come to move on. I gave everything I had to this organization and city and I’ll always be thankful for the opportunity I got here,” he wrote.

Kampf went on to thank the people he worked with during his tenure with the team and said that Tronto will always have a special place in his heart.

“Thank you to all my teammates I got to spend those years with I wish you guys all the best. Also, special thank you to each and every one of the Leafs staff for taking care of me and my family through the years. Toronto will always have a special place in our hearts. Excited for the future with Canucks!”

Kampf’s farewell comes after a tense and unusually public end to his tenure with the Leafs. Toronto placed him on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination ending a four-year, $2.4-million-AAV deal he signed in 2023. Before that, he had been assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, where he appeared in four games before taking what was described internally as an unsanctioned leave of absence.

The team later suspended him without pay, showing how much the relationship had broken down. With the termination finalized, Kampf became a free agent and this week, he signed a one-year $1.1-million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

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Canucks GM Patrik Allvin was all praises for David Kampf

Following the announcement of David Kampf’s signing, Vancouver Canucks General Manager Patrik Allvin was full of praise for the veteran centre as he talked about the impact Kämpf is expected to make.

Allvin made it clear that the organization sees Kampf as a valuable and stabilizing presence.

“David is a very reliable two-way centre who will improve our strength and depth down the middle immediately,” Allvin said. “He is good in the faceoff dot and is a solid penalty killer, two areas of need we currently have on our team. His hockey IQ is also a big asset and we believe he will fit in nicely with our group.” [HT/ NHL.com]

Kampf originally opened the season with the Toronto Marlies posting one assist through four AHL games. He previously played 59 games for the Maple Leafs in 2024-25 recording 13 points and 14 penalty minutes while appearing in one playoff contest.

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Edited by Anjum Rajonno