The Toronto Maple Leafs are continuing to explore the trade market for forwards Nick Robertson, who has recently been on the team’s top line, and David Kampf, who has spent the season in the AHL, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports.
Robertson has two goals and four points in 10 games this season, while moving as high as the first line and as low as being a healthy scratch through the first month of the season. He saw a season-high 17:22 of ice time in Wednesday’s blowout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, starting the game on a line with Auston Matthews and Bobby McMann as William Nylander sat out with an injury.
Kampf was waived prior to the start of the season and has one assist in four games with the Marlies. Carrying a cap hit of $2.4 million through next season, the 30-year-old is counting for $1.25 million against Toronto’s cap while in the AHL.
“We know that GM Brad Treliving continues to explore the idea of moving both David Kampf and Nick Robertson,” Dreger said Thursday on Insider Trading.
“Now, the veteran David Kampf, who’s in the American Hockey League, it’s more about just getting off the money. For Nick Robertson, this guy is a bottom-six, he’s a top-six, he’s in the press box, he’s scoring goals. He’s a young guy who the Toronto Maple Leafs have time for and they are in no rush to move him out.
“If they were to get the right sort of return for Nick Robertson, it would be a player of a similar age. That’s why it’s difficult when you’re talking about trade scenarios around a young guy like Robertson.”
Signed at a cap hit of $1.825 million ahead of restricted free agency again next summer, Robertson requested a trade from the Maple Leafs during the 2024 off-season, but eventually re-signed with the club. He’s been the subject of trade rumours for several seasons.
Selected 53rd overall in the 2019 draft, the Pasadena, Calif., native has appeared in 160 games for the Maple Leafs across parts of six seasons, scoring 32 goals with 57 points.
Kampf posted five goals and 13 points in 59 games last season. He appeared in just one of the team’s playoff games, seemingly falling out of favour with head coach Craig Berube after having a full-time role under former head coach Sheldon Keefe. He has 48 goals and 143 points in 536 career NHL games.
Leafs looking to improve, but staying patient
While the Maple Leafs are off to a 5-5-1 start, TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports there’s no panic within the team’s front office amid the slow start.
Treliving has been open about his pursuit of a top-six forward ever since losing Mitch Marner in a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and continues to scour the market.
It does not appear a panic move is in sight, though.
“Certainly, I think they’re looking at every opportunity to improve the team, we know that’s Brad Treliving’s way as the Leafs GM, but what I can tell you is there is a little more calm, maybe, inside the management office than there might be outside around this team,” Johnston said.
“For starters, they have had sluggish starts in the past and come back from them just fine. When they look at the games, they are actually seeing some improvement here in this last stretch.
“Even with the loss in Columbus, there’s a recognition, of course, they have to clean up some turnovers and aspects of the game, but they actually think things are trending in a good direction.
“And on top of that, the injury news is getting a little better with Scott Laughton very, very close to returning to the lineup. Obviously, they’re still managing William Nylander, but there’s a feeling that this is still a positive thing and maybe the alarm bells don’t need to be ringing just yet.”
The Maple Leafs will take on the Philadelphia Flyers, who are off to a promising 6-3-1 start, on Saturday.
