David Kampf is doing exactly what Dubas brought him here to do; here's how effective he's been
When Dubas signed David Kampf to a two-year deal worth $3 million ($1.5M AAV), the vast majority of Leafs Nation was baffled, not knowing much about the Czech forward, other than the fact that he had scored just one goal the year prior. As the season progressed though, everyone understood why and finally knew who he was.
Kampf was brought in to center the third line and play a shutdown role for the Leafs, not unlike what Phillip Danault was for the Canadiens. Given the fact that the Leafs had not had a consistent shutdown third line in years, it was the perfect opportunity for Kampf. Mainly playing with Engvall and Mikheyev, that line became Keefe's most trusted line that he knew he could put out in any situation to change the momentum of a game.
While Mikheyev has been shuffled around lines in the playoffs, Kampf and Engvall have continued to provide the Leafs with quality third line shifts. Keefe trusts Kampf so much that he has started Kampf in the defensive zone or in a defensive position 75% of the time against Tampa. Trusted to win big draws in the Leafs' zone, he has done an exceptional job, winning 55% of his faceoffs and is driving play to the Tampa zone holding an impressive 58% expected goals.
He has scored 2 massive goals that contributed to wins in Games 1 and 3, including a shorthanded marker. At this point, he looks like a bargain at $1.5M per season and one of Dubas' top signings in recent memory. He has solidified the Leafs third line and has given Keefe a stable center that he can trust in any situation.
