The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without defenseman Jake McCabe and forward David Kampf for the next two games, as both are set to miss the club’s brief two-game road trip through Florida after participating in Monday’s optional skate.
According to TSN’s Mark Masters, the two skaters hit the ice before the team departed for Fort Lauderdale ahead of a back-to-back set against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday and Wednesday. Head coach Craig Berube told reporters both players are officially ruled out for the trip and are still listed as day-to-day.
“They won’t play either game, the next two,” Berube told reporters including Masters.
Jake McCabe and David Kampf back on the ice today, but won’t play the next two games, per Leafs coach Craig Berube @TSN_Sportspic.twitter.com/q5eGDh3N1y
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) April 7, 2025
Berube also mentioned on Monday that the pair will stay back in Toronto and continue to recover, not travelling with the team.
“They’ll stay home. They’re skating today, which is good, but they’ll be out the next two games,” he said.
Kampf exited Wednesday’s game against Florida in the second period with an upper-body injury and did not return. McCabe, whose injury is undisclosed, was seen heading to the dressing room with just over a minute left in the third period after crashing awkwardly into the boards following a hit from Carter Verhaeghe. The 31-year-old blueliner also collided with a linesman after a Matthew Knies goal.
Both players also sat out Saturday’s home game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
“I'm not sure when it happened, to be honest with you. I really don't know,” said Berube on Friday.
Jake McCabe went to the Leafs dressing room with 1:10 left
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 3, 2025
I wonder if this had anything to do with it pic.twitter.com/aEEHX0P5jD
Toronto has a small cushion at the top of the Atlantic Division with a four-point lead over the Tampa Bay Lightning and a six-point lead over the Florida Panthers. With just six games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the team can afford to rest McCabe and Kampf with bigger goals set on the playoffs – already locked into their ninth consecutive postseason appearance.
Kampf, who has tallied five goals and eight assists for 13 points through 59 games this season, is averaging a career-low 12:24 of ice time per game. McCabe, meanwhile, has been a cornerstone of Toronto’s defense, contributing two goals and 21 assists while averaging a career-high 21:31 per night across 66 appearances.
How The Maple Leafs Will Adjust Without David Kampf And Jake McCabe In The LineupKampf left Wednesday's game with an upper-body injury, while McCabe's ailment is undisclosed.
No official timetable has been given for either player’s return.
"I can't really comment on that too much about how long it's going to be,” Berube said on Friday.
For now, Toronto will prioritize health ahead of their hopes of a postseason run, looking to get McCabe and Kampf ready for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the latest.
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