David Kampf became an unrestricted free agent on Friday after he cleared unconditional waivers, the final step before both he and the Toronto Maple Leafs mutually agreed to terminate his contract. The Leafs were carrying $1.25 million of his $2.4 million cap hit when he was with the Toronto Marlies after he failed to make the roster at training camp. When Kampf departed the organization to contemplate his future, the Leafs got some temporary salary cap space as the player was suspended without pay.
However, now that the Leafs are free of the contract, the move has allowed them to make some roster adjustments with ease. The Leafs announced that they activated Joseph Woll from long-term-injured reserve. With the additional $1.25 million from Kampf’s cap hit, the Leafs had enough room to activate Woll, while also calling up Easton Cowan. The only player on the Leafs’ long-term injured list right now is Marshall Rifai, who underwent wrist surgery after an injury in pre-season action.
In the past, the Leafs were always up against the salary cap and would have to place a player on long-term injured reserve just to free up space. That would result in knowing they had to rule out a player for a minimum of 10 games and 24 days, even if the player recovered earlier than that timeframe.
Per PuckPedia.com, the Leafs have $1,756,539 in deadline cap space. They’ll likely need more than that if they are in the market to acquire an impact player to help their short-term aspirations. But with the Leafs struggling on the ice right now, it’s probably the least of their concerns.
It’s incredibly rare for the Leafs to activate a player from long-term injured reserve a day before they even play a game. But knowing Kampf isn’t coming back, the move was an easy one. The Leafs are currently carrying the salary cap of 26 players either on their active roster or just through regular injured reserve, something the Leafs just haven’t been able to do in the past.
“It’s a great opportunity for me to step up and play alongside two of the best in the game. I’m excited to get the chance and show what I can do on the top line. Slaf’s a great player, and I’m just going to try to bring my own energy and contribute to the team however I can.”
— Zachary Bolduc, on replacing Juraj Slafkovský on the top line.
Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St-Louis has made a bold decision ahead of tonight’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets
, shaking up his top line for the first time this season. With Kirby Dach sidelined by injury, Zachary Bolduc has been called up from Laval and will take Juraj Slafkovský’s
spot alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki.
This marks an important opportunity for Bolduc, a highly regarded prospect, to prove himself at the highest level. The 19-year-old center, who has shown promise with the
Meanwhile, Slafkovský
, who had been playing on the top line, will move to a new role on the second line, joining Oliver Kapanen and Ivan Demidov. This shift may provide the young winger with a more balanced opportunity to contribute, while also giving
For Zachary Bolduc, stepping onto the top line is a major moment in his young career. The
“It’s a great opportunity for me to step up and play alongside two of the best in the game,” Bolduc said after the announcement. “I’m excited to get the chance and show what I can do on the top line. Slaf’s a great player, and I’m just going to try to bring my own energy and contribute to the team however I can.”
The decision comes at a crucial point in the season for the Canadiens, as they look to find chemistry and continue building momentum. Bolduc’s presence on the top line could be a game-changer for the
For Juraj Slafkovský, the move to the second line isn’t a demotion, but rather a chance to develop in a more balanced role. Slafkovský has shown promise, but has faced challenges in his second season. The change could be a positive step for his growth, allowing him to find his rhythm while contributing alongside
St-Louis has always emphasized that player development is a key factor in the team’s long-term success, and this lineup shift could be a strategic move to maximize both
The Canadiens will be hoping that Bolduc’s addition to the top line provides the spark they need, while Slafkovský gets a chance to shine in a new role. The
As the Canadiens continue their season,