When the Maple Leafs scratched David Kämpf for back to back games, it was a bit puzzling to see however there seems to be a method behind the madness.
With a dominant victory over Calgary, and a must-win game approaching against the Colorado Avalanche, the Maple Leafs have to be on their toes as they prepare to close the gap on the Atlantic Division standings.
They're rolling out the same lineup that brought them success against the Flames, and with hopes that history will repeat itself, that means that David Kämpf is yet again scratched in favor of newcomer Scott Laughton.
Is there an injury we don't know about? Has Kampf checked out? Well, according to some new information: He's just not good enough offensively.
Toronto Needs As Much Scoring As Possible Come Stanley Cup Playoffs
Ranking at the bottom of the lineup in regards to expected goals for since the 4 Nations break, Kampf just hasn't generated enough offensively to warrant his place in the lineup right now.
Toronto struggles to score goals, and bringing in an offensively handicapped player to add more defense isn't needed when the team has Scott Laughton; a player who can add that defensive play style and chip in way more offensively.
Laughton already has a higher xGF% (43.5%) than Kampf, and when defenders Philippe Myers and Simon Benoit are ranking higher than you; it's not the best look. Even notoriously inconsistent forward Pontus Holmberg ranks at the top, and when he offers a better alternative? Yikes.
Toronto runs with a hybrid lineup, where they don't employ a typical fourth line with bruising forwards and enforcers, and instead designate the 'third' line as the more offensive one with Max Domi, Nicholas Robertson, and Bobby McMann.
Their '3B' line of Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok, and Steven Lorentz are much more defensively sound, though through the use of their defensive skillset, can offer some offensive chances as well (17 goals combined, 10.11% shooting).
Kampf has chipped in offensively a bit however, with 10 points in 52 games (4G, 6A) and is signed with the team for the next three seasons at $2.4M, a huge amount of money to spend on a fourth liner, let alone one who doesn't fit in currently.
Kampf can still help out defensively, but when goals and scoring matters; especially come playoff time, then it's better he sits than skates.
