Toronto Maple Leafs Could Get Cheap Trades For Kampf & Jarnkrok – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a busy first week of free agency. General Manager (GM) Brad Treliving knew he had to talk to the blue line, and he did. He also brought in Anthony Stolarz to be part of the goal tandem with Joseph Woll. One area that was not looked at, was the team going forward, which is still the same as it was last season. Management may hope Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten step up and make the roster in training camp. However, if that doesn't happen, the forward team is in a very dubious position.

Treliving must create if they want to change the team going forward. He could waive Ryan Reaves to make room, sign a player to a professional tryout (PTO) and then a minor league contract. Alternatively, he may choose a more challenging path and proceed from the combination of David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok. Their total salary of $4.5 million can be used to sign more players who can serve the same purpose as them at a lower cost.

Maple Leaves Need Cap Space

If the Maple Leafs aren't going to trade Mitch Marner this offseason and use $10.9 million to help balance the group going forward, they'll have to turn around and move a few secondary players to make room. Trading Kampf and Jarnkrok would free up $5.5 million in cap space, and could deal with players who could help the roster or draft picks to restock the locker room.

Kampf is a very reliable defensive player who does little against the cap. However, a few teams may be interested, such as the Utah Hockey Club, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Washington Capitals. All three would take his full cap hit of $2.4 million and part with a mid-round draft pick. They would also benefit from bringing in a defensive-minded center who can play a shutdown role.

Related: Brad Treliving's Season Walk Shows His Impact on the Leafs

Jarnkrok is a good power forward, and while his cap hit isn't bad at $2.1 million, his time is very long and a mid-round draft pick for him would also be good. The Nashville Predators and New York Islanders would make sense. Jarnkrok began his career with the Predators. As for the Islanders, they need to score deep, and they can score 15-20 goals.

A possible free agent replacement

There are several good secondary scoring options that could replace these three players at a reasonable cost and could be of interest to the Maple Leafs.

A possible internal Pontus Holmberg, very low cost could fit in Kampf as a fourth line center. On the open market, Sammy Blais would be a great replacement. Although he is not known for scoring goals, he can be a thorn in the side of opponents. Under this scenario, the fourth line center position will be taken by Holmberg or Connor Dewar (yet to be signed). At 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, Blais is a true fourth-line grinder. Last season, he had 194 hits in 53 games with St. Also, new Maple Leafs bench manager Craig Berube is his old coach. He could also sign for around $900,000–$1 million per season. – The two highlighted sentences are confusing and distracting.

Related: The Curious Case of Maple Leaves and Jani Hakanpaa

Daniel Sprong may replace Jarnkrok. I'm not sure why he hasn't been signed yet, but it could be his asking price. He is a great secondary scoring option for the Maple Leafs to pursue. Sprong can easily score 40–50 points in the team's top nine. Last season with the Detroit Red Wings, he scored 18 goals and 25 assists; last year, with the Seattle Kraken, he was 46, a career high. He and Jarnkrok are roughly the same size (Sprong is three pounds heavier), and both bring speed and a strong foreskin. It may cost the Maple Leafs $1.5 million a season, but he will help provide the bottom six points they desperately need.

Treliving still has time to talk to the team going forward. The Maple Leafs cannot enter the 2024-25 season with four cores still intact and the same group returning at forward without Tyler Bertuzzi. The hope is that the management team can find a few gems at a very low price that can have a big impact. To do that, they need to get rid of Kampf and Jarnkrok.