The Chicago Blackhawks were busy in this year’s trade deadline, making a handful of moves two of which included letting go of a pair of forwards in David Kampf and Vinnie Hinostroza as they both will look to continue their hockey careers elsewhere.
David Kampf
The 26-year-old will head north as he signs with the Toronto Maple Leafs on a two-year contract, and his cap hit is $1.5 million
The Blackhawks signed Kampf as an undrafted free agent back in 2017, and it will be the first time he`ll be suiting up for a different team in his career after spending his first four with the Hawks.
During his stint with the Hawks, Kampf appeared in 235 games, scoring 17 goals, recording 41 assists, and finishing with 58 points. Kampf`s best season with the Blackhawks came in the 2018-19 season, scoring four goals, and finishing with career-high numbers with 15 assists and 19 points.
Kampf will now be joining a star-studded playoff team in the Maple Leafs, as he will be playing alongside the likes of Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and Mitch Marner. For Kampf, this is going to be a huge change from playing on a rebuilding team to a team that is in the process of taking the next steps to compete for a Stanley Cup.
Vinnie Hinostroza
The Illinois native is departing from his hometown team Chicago Blackhawks for the second time after getting signed to the Buffalo Sabres to a one-year contract worth $1.05 million
Hinostroza appeared in 17 games for the Blackhawks in the 2020-21 season, scoring four goals, recording eight assists, and finishing with 12 points.
Unlike Kampf, Hinostroza is heading to a struggling Sabres squad that hasn’t made a playoff appearance since 2011 where they lost in the first round.
Stan Bowman letting go of Kampf and Hinostroza is a move that had to be made with their captain Jonathan Toews returning to the team after taking a year off.
With Kampf and Hinostroza departing from the Blackhawks, Bowman also went out and traded for back-to-back Stanley Cup champion Tyler Johnson from the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Brent Seabrook contract.
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This trade does not only improve the Blackhawks roster, but it puts this team in the best position to compete for a playoff spot next season.