{"id":750444,"date":"2026-07-08T12:10:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:10:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/750444\/"},"modified":"2026-07-08T12:10:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T12:10:15","slug":"recent-buffalo-sabres-trade-acquisition-leaves-nhl-for-europe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/750444\/","title":{"rendered":"Recent Buffalo Sabres trade acquisition leaves NHL for Europe"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a>. The center then became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.<\/p>\n

HC Litvinov announced<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

Litvinov’s roster already featured the Kase brothers, David and Ondrej, who also own NHL experience.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

AFP Analytics<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

David Kampf was a paper transaction for the Buffalo Sabres ahead of NHL free agency<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“Contract move,” Kekalainen told reporters<\/a> at the time, meaning it helped Washington stay within roster limits before the new league year began July 1.<\/p>\n

That became even more clear when Buffalo re-signed fourth-line stalwart Beck Malenstyn to a six-year, $17.5 million extension<\/a> before he could hit UFA status.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

There simply wasn’t a spot available for Kampf in Buffalo.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Sabres have 14 forwards currently under contract and Krebs will make it 15 barring an unexpected twist before (or after) his arbitration hearing.<\/p>\n

Kekalainen is tentatively planning to keep only 13 up front since the club is tentatively expected to move ahead with its three-goalie rotation<\/a> of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Alex Lyon and Colten Ellis. So, two players will have to get demoted to the AHL or traded.<\/p>\n

Buffalo may opt to let Jiri Kulich, who missed most of this past season with a blood clot<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

Kekalainen is also still working the NHL trade market<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> or a smaller move, there’s still some work to do before training camp arrives.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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