David Kampf is leaving the NHL after nine seasons, signing a contract with Litvinov in his native Czechia. The 30-year-old center, who spent the last four seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, said he no longer enjoyed playing hockey in North America and wanted to return home.
Kampf's decision to leave the NHL
Kampf signed with Litvinov of the Czech Extraliga, a team near his hometown of Chomutov. He earned $12.75 million US over his NHL career, including a four-year, $9.6 million contract with the Maple Leafs that carried a $2.4 million annual cap hit. However, he told the team's website that the time had come to return to Czechia.
“I've been thinking about returning to the Czech Republic for a long time, it was nine demanding years overseas. I felt that the time had come to return home and find a team near where I live,” Kampf said, as translated from Czech. He added that in the NHL, “it's been more of a job for me in recent years, I didn't really enjoy hockey. I'm looking forward to getting more space here, gaining new momentum and having fun with hockey again.”
Why Litvinov?
Kampf chose Litvinov over other Czech clubs because of his childhood connection and the opportunity to play with friends David and Ondrej Kase. “Chomutov plays in the first league, so I decided on Litvínov, which I've had a relationship with since childhood, when I went to games there,” he said.
Jiri Slegr, a retired NHL defenseman and Litvinov's board chairman, called the signing a “huge boost” for the club and the entire Extraliga. “Acquiring a player of David's stature, who is coming from the NHL in his prime, is extremely valuable for us,” Slegr said. “David is a complex forward, leader and professional who will immediately raise the quality of our team to a completely different level.”
Kampf's NHL career
Kampf played 576 NHL games, recording 50 goals and 99 assists for 149 points. He was primarily a bottom-six forward, playing four seasons each with the Chicago Blackhawks (who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017) and the Maple Leafs. He also briefly played for the Vancouver Canucks and Washington Capitals, and was part of a sign-and-trade that sent Alex Tuch from Buffalo to Washington.
In Toronto, Kampf served as the fourth-line center before becoming a healthy scratch during the 2025 playoffs after the team acquired Scott Laughton at the trade deadline. His contract was a point of contention among fans, who felt the cap space could have been better used elsewhere.
