‘To Comply With The Cap, Who Are We Looking At?’: Are Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf Potential Trade Candidates for the Maple Leafs?

With the 2024-25 regular season just 11 days away, the Toronto Maple Leafs face some tough roster decisions. Currently, the Leafs are $1,069,667 over the salary cap, according to PuckPedia, and must get below the threshold before October 9.

To become cap-compliant, the club must make a move or two. The question is, who? On TSN’s First Up on Friday, NHL insider Darren Dreger floated the names of Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf as two potential trade candidates.

“So to comply with the cap, who are we looking at? I’m looking at guys like (Calle) Jarnkrok, maybe David Kampf,” Dreger said. “They’re decent players, there’s a reliability concern for me when I look at Jarnkrok. If he’s not available, then he’s not helping you. He’s been around the National Hockey League long enough that I think you could find a fresh start for him, a new home for him.”

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The 33-year-old Jarnkrok appeared in just 52 regular season games in the 2023-24 season, recording 10 goals, 11 assists, and 21 points. Over two seasons in Toronto, he’s played in 125 regular season games but has missed time due to various hand injuries, even spending time on long-term injured reserve (LTIR).

Most recently, he’s been sidelined in the 2024-25 preseason with a lower-body injury, further supporting Dreger’s concerns about his availability. The Swede has two years remaining on his four-year, $8.4 million contract, carrying an average annual value (AAV) of $2.1 million per season. His deal, which ends after the 2025-26 season, includes a modified 10-team no-trade clause.

Related: 'It's Not Serious': Auston Matthews Leaves Maple Leafs Practice Early With Upper-Body Issue, Calle Jarnkrok Day-to-Day with Lower-Body Injury

Entering his 12th season in the NHL, he could still be an attractive option for other teams seeking a versatile veteran presence who can chip in offensively and play in various situations.

David Kampf: A Safe but Expendable Option?

The 29-year-old center, who signed a four-year, $9.6 million contract extension with an annual cap hit of $2.4 million in 2023, has been praised for his defensive play and his ability to anchor a safe and responsible fourth line.

“David Kampf is a safe fourth line center. He gives you everything he has and Berube, he might love that,” Dreger explained.

While Kampf’s defensive reliability and penalty-killing skills make him a valuable asset, his $2.4 million cap hit could be a stumbling block for a team that needs to maximize every dollar under the salary cap.

In the summer, the Toronto Star’s Nick Kypreos echoed Dreger’s sentiments, suggesting that Kampf, the Leafs’ sixth highest-paid forward in 2024-25, might be moved to free up cap space.

“The bottom-six forwards need some attention as well. Is David Kampf still in the plans to lead the Leafs’ checking line? There’s a good chance they cut bait there as well,” Kypreos said. “Can he be replaced by prospect Fraser Minton or is it time to look for an NHL-ready player elsewhere?"

Related: ‘There’s A Good Chance They Cut Bait There As Well’: Could the Maple Leafs Trade David Kampf Amid a Lack of Forward Depth?

Kampf recorded eight goals and 11 assists in 78 games during the 2023-24 season, a slight dip in production compared to his 2022-23 campaign, where he posted 27 points (7 goals, 20 assists) in 82 games. Despite this, Kampf’s true value lies in his defensive play and his reliability as a bottom-six forward.

As general manager Brad Treliving navigates the team’s salary cap issues, both Jarnkrok and Kampf, with their cap hits, could be plausible trade candidates. One thing is clear – Toronto will need to make a move or two in the coming weeks to comply with the salary cap.

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