Former Leaf David Kampf in an unexpected move centering the Canucks' top line

David Kampf has gone from outside the Toronto Maple Leafs roster to centering the Vancouver Canucks offense on the first line ahead of Vancouver's game tonight against the Buffalo Sabres.

After being assigned to the American Hockey League with the Toronto Marlies, Kampf had left the team following four AHL games, reportedly dissatisfied with being in the minors and wanting another NHL chance.

The Leafs suspended Kampf and later placed him on waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract, leading to Kampf signing with Vancouver days later after a bidding war between the Canucks and the Montreal Canadiens.

David Kampf has been in Vancouver for less than a month but has already jumped up into the top line, but it isn't all as it seems.

Kampf is currently pointless in 10 games played this season with Vancouver, largely contributing in a penalty killing role with the Canucks.

Indeed David Kampf is on the top-line, but it comes with a few caveats, specifically the Canucks being with a few key forwards injured including Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, & Filip Chytil.

As well, the Canucks are last in the NHL with a 11-16-3 record and 25 points, having struggled the entirety of the season, and Kampf is the team trying something new.

The other options in the depth chart at center include a career bottom-sixer in Drew O'Connor and two inexperienced options in Aatu Raty and Max Sasson, leaving the veteran Kampf as the best chance for offense, even if currently without any points.

Kampf had five goals and 13 points in 59 games last season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, with a career high in points with 27 coming with Toronto in the 2021-22 season.

While being a defensively responsible forward, David Kampf has been largely a black hole on offense, but the Canucks are putting the chance at Kampf on the top line sparks some of an output.