Are David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok really going to stay on the Toronto Maple Leafs?

All offseason, Calle Jarnkrok and David Kampf have been assumed trade pieces. Their names aren’t even in mock rosters, as they’ve already been shipped off in fans’ minds. But here we are, in late August, and they’re still on the roster.

The Leafs aren’t over the cap; in fact, they have just under $2M in space. They don’t need to trade anyone and are somehow still linked to Jack Roslovic. But will they really head into the season with Kampf and Jarnkrok on the roster?

Depth is never a bad thing, but Toronto actually might have too many forwards. Let’s discuss.

The lineups

We’ve all been convinced at some point that Jarnkrok could play in the top-six. He’s a former 20-goal scorer who has looked good in spurts with John Tavares and William Nylander. 

But those days are over, at least I think they are. He’s had a couple of dreadful playoff runs now and is definitely not the secondary scorer he once was. So, if he is in the lineup, he’ll be a third liner at best.

With newly acquired Nic Roy and Dakota Joshua, there is one spot left on that third line. Matias Maccelli will be an option, as will Max Domi. Whichever one doesn’t play with Auston Matthews will get a shot with Roy and Joshua (presumably). Jarnkrok would need to show chemistry quickly with those two to prevent a better scorer from grabbing hold of that spot.

If both Jarnkrok and Kampf end up on the fourth line, that means two of Steven Lorentz, Scott Laughton and Nick Robertson are out. I can’t really see that happening, not after sending a haul for Laughton at the trade deadline last year and giving both Robertson and Lorentz raises in the offseason.

The most likely scenario is a rotating fourth line, but it would be a rotation of five or six guys. That’s a lot for a coach and organization to deal with, not to mention there are only so many roster spots.

It can be done, but the Leafs are just too deep at forward to justify keeping Kampf and Jarnkrok. Even if they were simply removed from the roster right now, as if they had vanished, the lineup would still look great. That’s not a slight on them, it’s a testament to how good the Leafs are.

The options

I’m honestly surprised the two are still on the roster, but maybe we’ve been overvaluing them all offseason.

I would have assumed both could be shipped off for mid-round picks, just cap dumped, but if that were the case, it already would have been done. Toronto may be the one attaching picks to get another team to take Jarnkrok or Kampf.

Maybe the Leafs have played them too much in the past, but both are easily capable fourth liners. If Toronto weren’t so deep, trading them wouldn’t be a priority. Hell, the Leafs have run successful fourth lines with both of them before.

So why won’t anyone take them? Maybe Leafs Nation is overrating them, or maybe Brad Treliving is holding out to get a great offer. But a trade is really the only way out here.

Buying them out is a last resort that shouldn’t happen. Jarnkrok is an expiring contract, and Kampf has two years left. Buying out Kampf would actually cost more than just sending him to the Marlies.

So the only real option the Leafs have is to wait. Wait for someone to see a capable fourth liner in either of them and take whatever you can get for them. Take a sixth-round pick and run with it, because it seems like that’s the only solution.

An unfortunate ending

Both Kampf and Jarnkrok have represented the blue and white well. Kampf, especially, has had some stretches of really awesome hockey and anchored the fourth line.

Jarnkrok battles injuries, but sometimes looks like a top-sixer. Both are good NHLers who can bring value to an organization. 

Unfortunately, the Leafs are just too deep. Both should be gone before the season starts, but not through much fault of their own. Toronto’s forward corps is fantastic, and they just aren’t needed anymore.