2 Maple Leafs listed as potential 'cap casualties' ahead of 2025 trade deadline

The NHL's trade market is heating up with just one month left until the deadline. While there's a number of top prospects, draft picks, and NHL talent that will be moved ahead of March 7, there's also a few players who could be considered 'cap casualties'. These players are under contract and overpriced, and could be throw ins for trades.

Daily Faceoff's Scott Maxwell listed out six cap casualties he could see a part of trades before the deadline, including two Toronto Maple Leafs in David Kampf and Max Domi. Kampf is under contract for $2.4 million AAV through the 2026-27 season, meanwhile Domi just signed a extension with the Leafs last summer, and is under contract at $3.75 million AAV through 2027-28.

Domi has recorded just three goals and 20 points in 46 games this season, and despite getting a look on Toronto's top line of late, Domi's been wildly inconsistent with his production this season, and doesn't play a bottom-six type of style. 

Kampf on the other hand is a defensive specialist, who is slightly overpaid, and somewhat underused. Kampf's recorded seven points in 41 games this season, and holds a 10-team no-trade clause, while Domi has a 13-team no-trade.

While it doesn’t appear that either player is fully out of favor in Toronto, it doesn’t seem like either of them is the solution at the third-line center position. The Leafs will be tight for cap space once Anthony Stolarz returns, and even more so if Calle Jarnkrok or Jani Hakanpaa play any substantial minutes this season, and if you look at their salary cap sheet, Domi and Kampf stand out as the most egregious contracts on the books. It’ll probably cost the Leafs something to move on from those deals, but it might be necessary if they want to find a third-line center. Domi has a 13-team no-trade list, and Kampf has a 10-teamer.

Other candidates listed were Jeff Skinner in Edmonton, Nils Hoglander in Vancouver, Erik Gustavsson and Justin Holl in Detroit.

Photo credit:  Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images