Having William Nylander play up on the top line with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner worked well against the Buffalo Sabres that they are sticking with it for the time being. The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially activated David Kampf off long-term injured reserve ahead of their game on Wednesday against the Dallas Stars. Kampf has been out of the lineup with a lower-body injury since Toronto's 4-3 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on Nov. 16. Kampf was initially placed on injured reserve on Nov. 19, before being moved to LTIR [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/david-kampf-will-be-out-until-mid-december-with-lower-body-injury-as-maple-leafs-move-forward-to-long-term-injured-reserve-amid-roster-shuffle] one day later. Nikita Grebenkin was called up on Nov. 20 in a corresponding move by the Maple Leafs. The 29-year-old participated in his first full practice with the club on Tuesday before the team flew to Dallas. He centered the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Ryan Reaves on his wings, the usual trio when all three players are in the lineup. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed following the practice that Kampf would return to the lineup against Dallas, after being out for just over a month with the lower-body injury. "Well, that's good, and he's a big body there, and he did a real good job with us (penalty) killing with, I would believe it was (Mitch) Marner because (Auston) Matthews was out," said Berube on Tuesday. "I thought they were really good together, and, you know, [Kampf] gives us more flexibility for sure. But I like his size down the middle and moves well. Like I said, he has his job to do, and he's been doing it well." In a corresponding move, the Maple Leafs sent Fraser Minten back to the Marlies on Tuesday morning. The 20-year-old forward scored two goals and two assists in 11 games while centering Toronto's third line. According to PuckPedia, after activating Kampf off long-term injured reserve, the Maple Leafs have $663,000 in cap space remaining with 23 active players on the roster. Toronto also has Calle Jarnkrok on LTIR after the forward had groin and sports hernia surgery. The team listed him as month-to-month on Nov. 18. Anthony Stolarz is on IR after he had a procedure done to remove a loose body from his knee. He'll be out of the lineup for four to six weeks, Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Tuesday. Jani Hakanpaa has been out since Nov. 16 after undergoing a procedure. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said the defenseman is still rehabbing and didn't provide a timeline [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/hes-still-rehabbing-why-jani-hakanpaa-remains-out-of-maple-leafs-lineup-after-undergoing-procedure-earlier-this-month] on the defenseman's return. Kampf is in the second season of a four-year, $9.6 million contract he signed with the Maple Leafs in June 2023. His cap hit in each season is $2.4 million. The forward has three assists — while averaging 12:18 of ice time — through 18 games this season.
