NHL Rumors: Insider links David Kampf to Canucks, Penguins & $3.3B Leafs rival hours after contract termination

David Kampf is looking for a new NHL home after leaving the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kampf ended his contract with the Leafs after a tough few months. He was scratched often last season and lost his regular role. New coach Craig Berube did not see him as a fit in the lineup.

Kampf went to the AHL but did not want to stay there. He was suspended without pay after he refused to play for the Toronto Marlies. Now, finally, he has chosen to walk away from the guaranteed money of his last $9.6 million contract to find NHL minutes.

Elliotte Friedman spoke about the situation on Friday's episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast. He said the Vancouver Canucks have early interest in Kampf, and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens, valued at $3.3 billion per Sportico, are other teams to watch.

"Kampf gets the opportunity to find something out there," Friedman said. [17:55 onwards] "Definitely believe Vancouver is in on this. They need centers like he's not a number two, but Vancouver's had a lot of trouble down the middle, and he can help them. "Someone mentioned Pittsburgh to me on Thursday. You know, I also just wonder about Montreal; like, that was brutal, what happened to Alex Newhook, and I hope that ends up being nowhere near as bad as it looked,"

Montreal may need depth after Alex Newhook’s recent injury. Friedman said the injury could push the team to explore David Kampf, despite not being the favourite for him. They could make a call because they need help down the middle.

"The moment I saw Alex Newhook go down, I was kind of like, "Boy, they might suddenly be placing a call,"," Friedman said. "And I don't know what this number is going to be for Kampf, and I'm sure they spent a lot of time going over the market, and they know exactly what it is."

Elliotte Friedman on delay in David Kampf-Leafs' decision

Leafs GM Brad Treliving signed David Kampf to a deal that became too expensive for his role. The contract carried a $2.4 million cap hit through 2027. Ending the deal helps Toronto prepare for future moves and roster needs. It also makes space for Joseph Woll to return from injury.

However, Friedman thinks it took a long time to finally get settled.

"But I will say this: this took longer than I thought it was...," Friedaman said. "And at the end of the day, it was Kampf's call, and he wanted a better chance to play in the NHL."

David Kampf hopes to stay in the NHL and play regular minutes. Vancouver, Pittsburgh, and Montreal all make sense as possible fits. Each team needs depth and experience at centre, and Kampf’s decision now depends on opportunity and role.

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Edited by Ankit Kumar