David Kampf was only a member of the Buffalo Sabres for a week, joining the team's offseason roster as part of the blockbuster Alex Tuch sign-and-trade deal with the Washington Capitals. The center then became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
HC Litvinov announced the signing of Kampf to a three-year contract on Tuesday, ending his nine-season run in the NHL. The former member of the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Caps provided a candid answer about his decision to return home 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. "... 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."
Litvinov's roster already featured the Kase brothers, David and Ondrej, who also own NHL experience.
Kampf recorded 149 points (50 goals and 99 assists) across 576 appearances at hockey's top level. He most frequently served as a bottom-six center, winning 51.5% of his career faceoffs and often serving on one of his team's penalty-killing units.
AFP Analytics projected he would have received a two-year, $4.5 million contract as an NHL free agent. Financial terms of his agreement with Litvinov weren't immediately released.
David Kampf was a paper transaction for the Buffalo Sabres ahead of NHL free agency
There were initially questions about whether the Sabres considered Kampf a potential fourth-line option when he was included in the Tuch trade. General manager Jarmo Kekalainen confirmed that was never the case.
"Contract move," Kekalainen told reporters at the time, meaning it helped Washington stay within roster limits before the new league year began July 1.
That became even more clear when Buffalo re-signed fourth-line stalwart Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million extension before he could hit UFA status.
The Sabres now have four candidates to fill bottom-line roles in 2026-27: Malenstyn, Sam Carrick, Justin Danforth and Tyson Kozak. Peyton Krebs will join that list once the RFA signs a new contract.
There simply wasn't a spot available for Kampf in Buffalo.
Meanwhile, the Blue and Gold still have a forward logjam to clear out before the new campaign, which is slated to get underway in late September as the NHL moves to an 84-game schedule.
The Sabres have 14 forwards currently under contract and Krebs will make it 15 barring an unexpected twist before (or after) his arbitration hearing.
Kekalainen is tentatively planning to keep only 13 up front since the club is tentatively expected to move ahead with its three-goalie rotation of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis. So, two players will have to get demoted to the AHL or traded.
Buffalo may opt to let Jiri Kulich, who missed most of this past season with a blood clot, to start with the Rochester Americans as he gets back up to full speed. Danforth and Kozak are other options for demotion to the Amerks, though both would require waivers.
Kekalainen is also still working the NHL trade market, though the buzz has died down significantly in recent days. Jack Quinn and Jason Zucker are potential options to get dealt with the club having one too many top-nine forwards at the moment.
All told, it feels like the Sabres' offseason isn't quite finished yet. Whether it's another blockbuster trade for someone like Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck or a smaller move, there's still some work to do before training camp arrives.
Buffalo will be aiming to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight year in 2026-27 after finally ending a 14-year postseason drought, the longest such streak in NHL history.
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