The Vancouver Canucks signed recently available centreman David Kampf to a one-year, $1.1 million contract over the weekend.

Kampf became available for the Canucks after he and his former team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, mutually agreed to terminate the remaining two years and $4.8 million. The Czech forward grew frustrated after being demoted to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL. After four games with the Marlies this season, where he registered just one assist, Kampf left the team to mull his options and never returned.

With the Canucks’ lack of depth down the middle, General Manager Patrik Allvin made quick work and got Kampf signed a day after he cleared waivers. Allvin met with the media on Sunday morning in Tampa Bay to discuss the recent signing:

“When this became available, that David was terminating his contract in Toronto and went on waivers, we talked to his agent,” Allvin shared. “I talked to Toronto prior to this. David has been a player that our scouting staff has followed over the years, and we like what it brings. And for us, you know, finding a way to manage the cap number, to get him in, and also for us to upgrade our centre ice [position] with a more experienced guy, very detailed defensively and a penalty killer. So we were very pleased that David chose to come to Vancouver. He travelled today, so he’s going to be in the lineup tonight or in the afternoon here. There is a possibility for tomorrow.”

The 30-year-old undrafted centreman started his career with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2017-18. He’s most known for his defensive acumen throughout his eight-year NHL career. Offence hasn’t been his bread and butter at the NHL level, topping out at 11 goals (2021-22) and 27 points (2022-23) with the Maple Leafs.

With Teddy Blueger on the shelf for the past month, the Canucks’ have struggled in the dot and on the penalty kill. They currently have the league’s worst penalty kill at 67.2%, and have the fourth-lowest faceoff percentage (46.3%).

Throughout his career, Kampf has been a first-over-the-boards penalty killer, averaging over two minutes of shorthanded ice time per game. Faceoff ability is another strong suit of his game, holding a career 51.4% faceoff percentage. However, Allvin believes he can bring more to this Canucks roster than just those two areas:

“I think also the experience,” Allvin said. “If you’re looking down the lineup, I think our young guys have taken steps and played well, but I think in the game, you need an experienced guy, with him having 500-plus games, [he’s] very reliable. The communication here with Adam and what Adam [has] seen in David and the familiarity here, we felt that he will upgrade our lineup. Then it’s up to the coach how to use him and where to play him here.”

Signing just a one-year deal, this is an opportunity for Kampf to prove he deserves another shot at a full-time role at the NHL level. And Allvin has not shut down the possibility of him being a long-term fit in Vancouver:

“Definitely,” Allvin replied when asked if Kampf could be in their long-term plans. “I think David has been a very reliable player in the league. I mean, for me, the integrity and character of a player that terminated his contract in order to stay in the league. I’m sure he wants to prove to everybody that he belongs in the league, and he’s still 30 years old. So my hope is that this is something that could be a potential long-term fit for both sides.”

After Monday morning’s roster move that saw Victor Mancini assigned to AHL Abbotsford, there is now a roster spot open for David Kampf to make his Vancouver Canucks debut as early as Monday night against the Florida Panthers.